The Trust Fund was set up in May 1996, and became operational last February. It aims to help LDCs integrate into the world economy through technical cooperation to strengthen export capacity. Programmes may include support for trade policy changes and trade diversification, and for policy changes in the financial and fiscal sectors. And stocks are growing because the continent has no environmentally sound disposal facilities. FAO adds that donor countries, aid agencies, agrochemical companies and African governments are all responsible for the steady accumulation.
Most stores are in urban areas.
Many of these chemicals are so toxic that a few grams could poison thousands of people. In July FAO said it had disposed of some 370 tons of unused toxic pesticides from Zambia and the Seychelles, as part of a programme to help developing countries clean up this environmental hazard. Storage sites were cleaned and highly dangerous chemicals were shipped to Europe for incineration. Most were unused stocks donated through foreign aid programmes. They discussed ways to improve accountability and transparency in African financial management, reading background documents and other participants' contributions, and then typing in their own comments.