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Aid by Sector
Environmental Pollution Programme
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Environmental Pollution Programme’s aim is to work with ODA-eligible countries and regions to reduce the adverse impacts of pollution. Work will improve health and reduce environmental harm and poverty that results from chemical, air, waste and water pollution, as part of the Triple Planetary Crisis. 2021-22: Scoping year to share expertise, best practice and invest in research to strengthen the capacity of low- and middle-income countries to meet their obligations under UN Multilateral Environment Agreements and frameworks. 2022-2025: Phase one delivering two multi-year projects in Vietnam and South Africa through delivery partners Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and in country organisations. The programme reduced pollution and its impacts on the environment and health by promoting sustainable, economically viable practices, strengthening regulations, and enhancing awareness through multi-sector engagement, robust evidence projects, capacity building and monitoring to support policymaking. 2025-26: This year’s programme will build and expand on the successful approaches on reducing air pollution and increasing uptake of integrated pest management in Vietnam, adding new work on waste and plastic pollution. Work in Uganda will focus on developing a Health and Pollution Action Plan, creating a framework for future action that is aligned with priorities of national stakeholders. The programme will also establish Regional Pollution Forums, working in a multilateral way to amplify impact by spreading knowledge of successful interventions.
Innovative Recycling of E-waste for Critical Metals and Sustainable Economy in Malaysia (iRECYCLE-Malaysia)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The iRECYCLE-Malaysia project aims to revolutionise e-waste management in Malaysia through the development of sustainable and profitable technologies for recycling plastic-contaminated printed circuit boards. This interdisciplinary research program brings together expertise from institutions in Malaysia and the UK to address the pressing challenge of e-waste in Malaysia, where generation is projected to reach 1.4 million tonnes annually by 2030. Currently, only 25% of Malaysia's e-waste is formally recycled, with 75% handled by the informal sector using outdated, unsafe practices that pose significant environmental and health risks. This situation urgently calls for innovative solutions to transform e-waste management, improve safety, and generate high-quality employment. The project aligns with Malaysia's 12th Plan (2021-2025), which emphasises transitioning to a circular economy and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility for e-waste. By developing customised recycling solutions for Malaysia's tropical climate and local context, iRECYCLE-Malaysia will contribute to the country's goals of increasing household recycling rates by 40% and scheduled waste recycling by 35%. Key objectives include: Developing sustainable metal leaching strategies using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents and bioleaching to replace hazardous mineral acid leaching. Establishing processes for separating mixed plastic waste using supercritical fluids to avoid toxic emissions from burning. Designing new separation flowsheets for full recovery of precious and critical metals. Building a pilot-scale demonstration of an integrated e-waste recycling process in Malaysia. Ensuring alignment with circular economy principles and economic feasibility. Developing formal e-waste policies for Malaysia based on stakeholder engagement. The project will deliver step changes in e-waste management by advancing biotechnology applications, developing innovative metal recovery methods, and demonstrating sustainable approaches to recycling complex plastic mixtures. These advancements will position Malaysia at the forefront of e-waste management innovation. iRECYCLE-Malaysia addresses the Ayrton Fund challenge area of "Smart delivery" with a focus on critical minerals. The project will enhance resource security through domestic recovery of critical metals, reducing dependence on imports. The developed processes aim to recover up to 95% of critical metals from e-waste, contributing to the supply of materials essential for clean energy technologies. The project is fully ODA compliant, directly benefiting Malaysia, an upper middle-income country on the DAC list. It addresses specific development challenges related to sustainable waste management and aligns with Malaysia's national priorities. Outcomes will promote economic development and welfare by reducing pollution, enhancing resource security, creating green jobs, and improving working conditions in the e-waste sector. Collaboration between UK and Malaysian institutions will facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer, building local expertise. The project will engage key stakeholders including government agencies, industry partners, informal sector workers, and local communities to ensure relevance and uptake of solutions. Training programs and a pilot demonstration will encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices. By combining cutting-edge scientific research with socio-economic considerations, iRECYCLE-Malaysia aims to create a transformative impact on the country's approach to resource recovery and environmental protection. The project will deliver tangible benefits including reduced environmental pollution, improved public health outcomes, new job opportunities, and enhanced resource security. These advancements will contribute to Malaysia's sustainable development goals while providing a model for e-waste management that can be adapted to other developing countries facing similar challenges.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Systems for Health
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
WASH Systems for Health will support governments in up to five developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to strengthen the systems needed to establish reliable, resilient and inclusive WASH services over five years. The programme will contribute to better health, nutrition and education, especially for poorer households and communities, and for women and girls in particular - and will be core to the UK’s approach to ending the preventable deaths of mothers, young children and infants (EPD). The programme’s focus on systems marks a fundamental shift in FCDO’s approach to WASH. Our new approach will enhance the sustainability of WASH services; it will ensure that women are empowered to take informed decisions about the services they receive; and it will attract new public and private finance to accelerate progress towards SDG 6 WASH targets – including universal access to safely managed WASH services.
Central Asia Small Projects Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will provide the mechanism for embassies to develop small projects to further the aims of the Country Business Plans and develop learning to support wider programming initiatives, with the overall aim of supporting development in the region.
Jordan Compact Economic Opportunities Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To promote economic development and opportunities in Jordan for the benefit of both Jordanians and Syrian refugees. This programme will attract new inward investment and open up economic markets for Jordanian goods and services, creating new jobs for Jordanians and Syrian refugees as set out in the Jordan Compact. The programme will also help Jordanian hosts maintain their resilience and economic stability.
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