UNITAR/IOMC: Preparing a National Profile to Assess Infrastructure and Capacity Needs for Chemicals Management - Guidance Document (2nd Edition 2012)
Description:
This guidance document has been developed to assist countries in preparing National Profiles to Assess Infrastructure and Capacity Needs for Chemicals Management, through a process which involves all interested parties at the country level. While the suggested approach is comprehensive, the document
has been designed to provide flexibility to countries. National Profiles should be prepared in accordance with country priorities and be consistent with available information and resources, and often a less comprehensive approach is adequate. In particular, the tables contained in Part C of this document should be considered illustrative and should be adapted to meet national needs and circumstances.
A National Profile:
- can become an official national reference document, providing a clear picture of the national legal, institutional, administrative, and technical infrastructure for national chemicals management;
- may assist in the identification of infrastructure-related strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, as well as priority needs for national action and external technical assistance; and
- could provide a nationally-recognised information base against which progress may be judged in meeting specific national or international targets.
To remain valuable, the National Profile should be reviewed periodically to determine when updating is needed. Updating the National Profile could be undertaken in a comprehensive manner (i.e. the entire National Profile), or by updating specific chapters only, e.g. as a result of particular national or international developments. The use for which the National Profile is intended will determine how often updating is warranted; for most purposes updating every few years would be appropriate. This guidance document is also intended to be useful as countries update or revise their National Profiles for specific purposes.
Why this Tool/Guidance?
This document provides guidance regarding Gap Analysis – Problem identification and priority setting.