This blog post is based on the remarks of Emilija Kjupeva Nedelkova on the Global Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) round table “National Coordination Mechanisms for Robust NIP Implementation” held on 13 November 2025.
Historical Background and Evolution of Coordination Structures
North Macedonia’s approach to managing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has evolved steadily over the past two decades. The country’s first steering committee on POPs was established in 2002, convening institutions directly engaged in chemicals management. This initial structure included the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning as the lead institution, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, the Ministry of Health, the Faculty of Agriculture, and representatives from NGOs and the private sector.
A second steering committee on POPs was created in 2012 during the country’s first NIP update, following the initial NIP developed in 2004–2005. This committee, again led by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning through its dedicated POPs unit, brought together the same institutions as earlier mechanisms, joined by the Ministry of Transport and Communication and the Ministry of Finance through the Customs Administration.
Parallel to these efforts, North Macedonia established its first Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) steering committee in 2009 as part of the country’s Stockholm Convention NIP development. The participating institutions included the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning as the leading agency, the Ministry of Health and its Bureau for Medicines responsible for chemicals legislation, the Ministry of Transport and Communication, the Ministry of Agriculture with its Phytosanitary Administration responsible for pesticide management, and the Customs Administration responsible for border control of chemicals. The SAICM steering committee was reconvened in 2011 and again in 2019, with nearly identical institutional participation. These multiple coordination bodies demonstrated strong multisectoral engagement but also highlighted the need for a more unified governance structure.
The Shift Toward Unified Governance: National Committee for Chemicals and Waste Management
North Macedonia’s experience implementing chemicals and waste management projects showed that multiple parallel committees made it increasingly difficult to ensure coherence across ministries and across chemical conventions. As Emilija Kjupeva Nedelkova noted, “the most acceptable option is to have a national committee for chemical and waste management,” reflecting a broad recognition that a unified structure was needed.
In response, North Macedonia established a unified national coordination mechanism (NCM) for chemicals and waste management. The NCM serves as the central coordinating body linking all relevant government and non-governmental institutions involved in POPs management and in broader chemicals and waste governance. The steering committee’s fundamental role is to prevent isolated, sector-specific action by serving as an institutional hub for coordination, oversight, and strategic alignment.
Institutional Composition
The lead institution is the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning through its POPs unit, which provides technical oversight, coordinates reporting, and guides policy implementation. The Ministry of Health addresses health-related chemical issues and enforces the chemicals law through its Chemicals Division and Inspectorate. The Ministry of Economy oversees specific life-cycle stages of industrial chemicals, while the Ministry of Agriculture, through its Phytosanitary Administration, manages pesticides. The Customs Administration ensures border control for chemical imports and exports. The State Environmental Inspectorate is responsible for enforcement across all aspects of chemicals and their environmental impacts. This interministerial structure enables comprehensive coordination across the entire chemicals and waste management system.
NCM Support to NIP Review and Update
The NCM plays a central role in ensuring that North Macedonia’s NIP updates are transparent, participatory, and firmly grounded in national realities. By bringing all relevant institutions into the review process, the mechanism fosters broad ownership and ensures that political endorsement is built into every stage of the plan.
The NCM also enables the integration of new national legal requirements and international obligations into each NIP update. When new POPs are listed under the Stockholm Convention, the country mobilizes its multi-sectoral expertise to update the NIP accordingly. Importantly, NIP updates endorsed through the national steering committee carry stronger political authority than those prepared solely by a single ministry. This collective endorsement enhances the legitimacy of the plan and supports its implementation across sectors.
Challenges to Effective Coordination
One area for development involves the regularity of meetings and the continuity of institutional representation. Strengthening the steady involvement of designated representatives would help maintain the mechanism’s momentum and further drive cross-sectoral commitments. The NCM currently operates with limited formal enforcement authority over line ministries regarding specific deadlines or agreed actions. Developing more robust mechanisms for accountability could help streamline complex processes, such as legislative amendments or large-scale infrastructure investments for hazardous waste.
At present, priority actions often rely on external donor funding, which can affect the predictability of long-term projects. There is an ongoing effort to better align committee decisions with dedicated domestic budget allocations to ensure the long-term sustainability of chemicals and waste management interventions.
Recommendations for Strengthening NCM
Building on these lessons, North Macedonia highlights several ways to reinforce national coordination mechanisms. One priority is to formalize the steering committee’s mandate and composition within national legislation—whether through chemicals, waste, or environmental laws— to ensure consistent participation regardless of shifts in institutional leadership. Another is to establish clear accountability arrangements. Requiring institutions to report on the status of NIP actions, resource allocations, and progress within their respective sectors would strengthen follow-through and allow the mechanism to operate with greater authority. Finally, securing sustainable domestic financing remains essential. Dedicated national budget lines for chemicals and waste management would reduce reliance on donor funding and enable long-term, predictable implementation of commitments under the Stockholm Convention and related agreements.
To learn more about the Global NIP Update project, visit Global NIP Update | Green Policy Platform
For a deeper dive into the GGKP round table “National Coordination Mechanisms for Robust NIP Implementation”, you can access the full recordings and materials here: https://www.greenpolicyplatform.org/webinar/national-coordination-mechanisms-robust-nip-implementation
This article was curated by Soomin Bae, Knowledge Management Support Consultant, GGKP/GGGI and reviewed by Anastasiya Buchok, Senior Project Associate, GGKP/GGGI.
