Page 18 - Implementation of ITU-T international standards for sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment: The path to a circular economy in Costa Rica

Project-related organizations

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency
for information and communication technologies (ICT), driving ICT innovation together
with 193 Member States and a membership of more than 900 companies, universities, and
international and regional organizations. Established more than 150 years ago in 1865, ITU
is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the global sharing of the radio
spectrum, promoting international cooperation in the allocation of satellite orbits, improving
communications infrastructure in the developing world, and setting the global standards that
foster seamless interconnection of a wide range of communications systems. From broadband
networks to innovative wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio
astronomy, satellite, and oceanographic land monitoring, as well as converging fixed-mobile,
Internet, and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. For more
information, visit: www .itu .int.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has as its core function
to support developing countries through technical assistance for the creation of sustainable
industries. Its mission is to improve people's living conditions and promote global prosperity
by providing solutions for sustainable industrial development in developing countries and
economies in transition.

UNIDO's Industrial Pollution Mitigation Division (IPM) assists countries to comply with the
Stockholm Convention to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to protect their
populations and their environmental resources from pollution-related to Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs).

The UNIDO-GEF project, “Strengthening national initiatives and enhancing regional cooperation
for the environmentally sound management of POPs in waste electrical and electronic equipment
(WEEE)” assists 13 Latin American countries technically and financially, advising them on e-waste
policies and regulations, appropriate management technologies, business models, capacity
building and awareness-raising. At the national level, the project seeks to strengthen policies
and train technical staff and government officials. At the regional level, the project aims to
harmonize key aspects of e-waste policies, and strengthen regional cooperation and knowledge
sharing. Through this project, policies will be promoted to enable the optimal recycling and
utilization of recycled materials, and the generation of decent jobs and job opportunities. This
approach will help to protect the environment from hazardous waste, recover raw materials and
provide refurbished products by extending their useful life.

Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for South
America (BCRCSA)

The Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for South America
(BCRCSA) on hazardous and other wastes has been hosted by the National Institute of Industrial
Technology since 1999. It is a technological reference for the South American region, and its
objective is to train and strengthen the control and productive structures of the South American

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