March 3-27, 2013, Stockholm, Sweden — For three weeks, 26 participants from 10 Eastern and Central European countries, as well as Uruguay, underwent training under the Sida's Advanced International Training Program on "Strategies for Chemicals Management." Two of three participants from Ukraine represented MAMA-86.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) – a central regulatory and supervisory authority under the Ministry of the Environment in the area of management, control, assessment and risk reduction of chemicals – was the direct organizer of the training and responsible for its delivery.

The training in Sweden, mostly theoretical, was the second phase of the program and included 11 modules covering issues such as principles and elements in chemicals management, current needs for chemicals management, chemical risks assessment, economic basis of chemical management, strategic management, and European policy for handling chemicals.

The participants also made short reports on the current situation with chemicals management in their countries and presented their ideas for minor projects supported by the participants' organizations. The reports and presentations had to be prepared at home during the program's first phase, which had been a condition for participation.

MAMA-86-Poltava Coordinator Yulia Berezhna presented a project on "Household Chemicals on Ukrainian Market: Environmental and Health Hazards." Natalia Vertyporokh from MAMA-86-Yaremche presented a project on "Safe Detergents for Toxic-Free Everyday Environment."

According to Ms. Berezhna, the training focused on how to properly build project activities: "Based on our small projects as examples, we are trained in their proper implementation: how to properly define objectives and tasks, and how to set priorities."

The "Swedish session" also included theoretical presentations and practical demonstrations during visits to objects of chemicals management: an incineration plant, an industrial and household paints factory, and a landfill with sorting facilities.

"I'd like to mention the high level of the training organization, the well-grounded and impeccably presented material, the involvement of highly experienced experts from various areas of chemicals management", says Ms. Berezhna.

The overall objective of the program, as stated by the Sida, is to provide relevant governmental officials with information, education, training, principles and tools for chemicals management, in order to assist them in the development of national strategies for chemicals management and sustainable development. Also persons from other relevant organizations may attend the program, depending on the number of applications.

"Just a few program participants represented non-governmental organizations," Ms. Berezhna points out. "Although an overwhelming majority of the participants were from public authorities, MAMA-86 succeed in demonstrating its experience in practical work in the domain of chemicals management in Ukraine and emphasizing the role an NGO as a representative of the public at large in the process of harmonization and adaptation of the European chemicals management policy in the Eastern and Central European countries."

In the program's third, interim, phase, which will last for approximately seven months, participants will work on their projects in their countries, and in November will convene for a week in Albania to present, discuss, and analyze their projects.

Earlier, three other representatives from MAMA-86 had undergone training under the Advanced International Training Program on "Strategies for Chemicals Management."