On the sidelines of the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), the final Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting of the third phase of the European Union (EU)–funded Programme on Capacity Building Related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries – ACP MEAs III convened on 7 December 2025. The meeting brought together Representatives from the EU, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, UNEP and FAO and implementing partners.

The PSC served as a forum to assess achievements, validate final reporting processes and identify the legacy pathways that will sustain impact beyond the programme’s duration.

A programme with global reach

Throughout its implementation period, ACP MEAs III has advanced global governance and compliance with biodiversity, as well as chemical-related conventions and promoted the mainstreaming of biodiversity friendly practices in agriculture. Building on more than a decade of collaboration through Phases I and II, this final phase has cemented the Programme’s role in field-level capacity building and in strengthening governance mechanisms.

Ms Kim-Anh Tempelman, Global Project Coordinator of ACP MEAs III (FAO), emphasized the Programme’s unique contribution: “ACP MEAs III has demonstrated that when regional institutions, governments and international partners work together, environmental governance can advance in meaningful and measurable ways. The results achieved across three regions will continue to benefit countries long after the programme has formally closed.”

Reflecting on Africa’s achievements under FAO implementation, Ms Ivy Saunyama added: “The partnerships built through ACP MEAs III in Africa have transformed how institutions and governments approach pesticide management, especially concerning HHPs. These networks will continue to grow and support countries well beyond 2025. We are already seeing many policy revisions and new developments emerging across different countries.”

Sharing achievements and final messages

Ms Patricia Mbote, Director of the Law Division at UNEP, opened the event with a call to carry the Programme’s spirit forward: “Let this moment serve as a time for reflection. ACP MEAs should stand as a model for advancing integrated approaches in future projects, actions and global initiatives.”

From the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States Secretariat, Mr Anthony Brand echoed this vision of sustainability and purpose: “Our commitment does not end here. It is essential to continue using the tools, studies and resources developed throughout the Programme, while strengthening the networks we have built over the years.”

Also addressing participants, Mr Niclas Gottmann, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships, highlighted the Programme’s long-term impacts: “We must look to the future and make full use of the extensive network we have created, it will undoubtedly support the next steps of future programmes. At the same time, we must constantly reinvent ourselves, including how we communicate. We cannot continue communicating as we did five years ago if we want to keep attracting people and resources.”

A sustainable legacy

The final PSC meeting marked both an end and a beginning. While ACP MEAs III concludes its formal implementation, its achievements, rooted in more than a decade of sustained collaboration, are expected to continue shaping regional and national environmental policies particularly in mainstreaming the sustainable management of biodiversity in agriculture.

As Ms. Jackline Wanja from the The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions Secretariat noted: “As FAO highlighted, it is important to recognize the circular theory of change as a guiding framework when planning future programmes. Too often, we forget or lack the resources, to fully implement what has been agreed from global to national levels. We must remain grounded in what is really happening in countries.”

Looking ahead to the global environmental agenda, the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat also recognized the momentum built by the Programme. Mr Jacopo Pasquero reminded participants that: “The next Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) 28 will be held at FAO in Rome in 2026. We would like to take this opportunity to continue the work initiated by this Programme. It is important to keep the energy and collaboration alive in order to keep building.”

Additional activities

In addition to the PSC, the Programme contributed to a high-level UNEA side event titled “Integrated Actions for a Resilient Planet: ACP-MEAs III Achievements and Pathways Forward.” During this event, Ms Kim-Anh Tempelman, presented the programme’s accomplishments. Here, partners, practitioners and policymakers came together once again to share lessons and explore how this long-standing collaboration can continue to support MEA implementation and regional cooperation. The side event also featured a high-level round table where ministers of environment from the ACP regions reflected on the programme’s contributions to their respective countries regions.

The legacy of ACP MEAs III belongs to all partners who have contributed to its success. Their collective efforts have established strong foundations that will continue to guide countries to translate commitments into implementation for biodiversity mainstreaming, strengthening chemicals and waste management and supporting sustainable development well into the future.