States are mandated to prevent the spread of chemical weapons by the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1540, an obligation that is often seen as competing for resources and attention with development, health, and safety objectives outlined in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While nonproliferation and development efforts are often discussed separately, linking these two issues should allow states to more efficiently allocate scarce resources while enhancing both security and economic development. In 2023, the Stimson Center outlined these potential complementarities in its issue brief Leveraging UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Synergies: The Case for Responsible Chemical Management. Improving chemical management practices in the security of manufacturing, transport, and waste management should enable states to better meet not only SDGs related to health and safeguarding the environment, but also 1540 obligations related to illicit trafficking, security of materials, capacity building, and technical cooperation.
The Stimson Center in partnership with the Government of Botswana convened a private roundtable to explore possible areas of complementarity between Botswana’s development and nonproliferation goals for chemical management and facilitate a dialogue between Botswana stakeholders and international organizations that provide SDG and nonproliferation capacity building support.
Participants in the roundtable, convened virtually under the Chatham House Rule, included representatives from relevant Botswanan ministries, healthcare providers, and academia, as well as international organizations, law enforcement agencies, and development programs. Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention Program Director Christina McAllister started the session with a presentation outlining the project background and roundtable objectives, including Stimson’s assessment of possible synergies between SDGs and Botswana’s 1540 implementation. Botswanan nonproliferation representatives then laid out Botswana’s accomplishments and further priorities for both sound chemical management related to both Resolution 1540 and SDG implementation, noting the government’s current programs, progress achieved so far, persistent challenges to implementation, and next steps for achieving objectives.
Representatives from other Botswanan ministries were then invited to comment on their priorities for developing sound chemical management and identify commonalities with those of Botswana’s nonproliferation representatives. They noted a need to improve training for handling chemicals, update and harmonize chemical management legislation, develop industry’s awareness of nonproliferation priorities, develop infrastructure for sustainable chemical storage and waste management, establish capacity-building programs with laboratories that test chemicals, and construct more effective chemical incident emergency response plans and capacity throughout Botswana’s healthcare system. Representatives identified Botswana’s upcoming Resolution 1540 implementation action plan review as an opportunity to engage all relevant stakeholders and close gaps that may exist in Botswana’s chemical management practices.
International partners presented their various technical assistance programs and initiatives that Botswana could leverage for furthering its SDG and nonproliferation objectives related to chemical management. These included Resolution 1540 support activities, training opportunities, implementation guides, equipment and technology exchange programs, mentoring exchanges, legislative assistance, needs assessments, and chemical management capacity-building projects. Speakers noted that many programs could be tailored to Botswana’s priorities and highlighted that an integrated approach that prioritizes coordination across ministries and with regional partners is essential to achieve sound chemical management.
Integration across specialized national and international security and development communities is a persistent challenge. Coordination mechanisms that prevent duplication of effort while also connecting institutional and legislative activities where warranted can help ensure that development in the chemical sector is safe, sustainable, and secure. Organizations that support countries in meeting their nonproliferation commitments through Resolution 1540 or the Chemical Weapons Convention offer expertise and assistance that is also of relevance to ministries focused on health, environment, and waste issues. Countries where economic development is a high priority may find that aid programs for the environment, health, and other SDGs also contribute to nonproliferation efforts through the implementation of sound chemical management policy and practices. This initial exploration established a framework upon which Botswana and its international partners can build to pursue and integrate these goals. The Stimson Center strives to continue providing forums for discussion to better understand how to leverage these disparate resources to achieve interrelated sound chemical management goals.
States are mandated to prevent the spread of chemical weapons by the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1540, an obligation that is often seen as competing for resources and attention with development, health, and safety objectives outlined in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While nonproliferation and development efforts are often discussed separately, linking these two issues should allow states to more efficiently allocate scarce resources while enhancing both security and economic development. In 2023, the Stimson Center outlined these potential complementarities in its issue brief Leveraging UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Synergies: The Case for Responsible Chemical Management. Improving chemical management practices in the security of manufacturing, transport, and waste management should enable states to better meet not only SDGs related to health and safeguarding the environment, but also 1540 obligations related to illicit trafficking, security of materials, capacity building, and technical cooperation.
The Stimson Center in partnership with the Government of Botswana convened a private roundtable to explore possible areas of complementarity between Botswana’s development and nonproliferation goals for chemical management and facilitate a dialogue between Botswana stakeholders and international organizations that provide SDG and nonproliferation capacity building support.
Participants in the roundtable, convened virtually under the Chatham House Rule, included representatives from relevant Botswanan ministries, healthcare providers, and academia, as well as international organizations, law enforcement agencies, and development programs. Partnerships in Proliferation Prevention Program Director Christina McAllister started the session with a presentation outlining the project background and roundtable objectives, including Stimson’s assessment of possible synergies between SDGs and Botswana’s 1540 implementation. Botswanan nonproliferation representatives then laid out Botswana’s accomplishments and further priorities for both sound chemical management related to both Resolution 1540 and SDG implementation, noting the government’s current programs, progress achieved so far, persistent challenges to implementation, and next steps for achieving objectives.
Representatives from other Botswanan ministries were then invited to comment on their priorities for developing sound chemical management and identify commonalities with those of Botswana’s nonproliferation representatives. They noted a need to improve training for handling chemicals, update and harmonize chemical management legislation, develop industry’s awareness of nonproliferation priorities, develop infrastructure for sustainable chemical storage and waste management, establish capacity-building programs with laboratories that test chemicals, and construct more effective chemical incident emergency response plans and capacity throughout Botswana’s healthcare system. Representatives identified Botswana’s upcoming Resolution 1540 implementation action plan review as an opportunity to engage all relevant stakeholders and close gaps that may exist in Botswana’s chemical management practices.
International partners presented their various technical assistance programs and initiatives that Botswana could leverage for furthering its SDG and nonproliferation objectives related to chemical management. These included Resolution 1540 support activities, training opportunities, implementation guides, equipment and technology exchange programs, mentoring exchanges, legislative assistance, needs assessments, and chemical management capacity-building projects. Speakers noted that many programs could be tailored to Botswana’s priorities and highlighted that an integrated approach that prioritizes coordination across ministries and with regional partners is essential to achieve sound chemical management.
Integration across specialized national and international security and development communities is a persistent challenge. Coordination mechanisms that prevent duplication of effort while also connecting institutional and legislative activities where warranted can help ensure that development in the chemical sector is safe, sustainable, and secure. Organizations that support countries in meeting their nonproliferation commitments through Resolution 1540 or the Chemical Weapons Convention offer expertise and assistance that is also of relevance to ministries focused on health, environment, and waste issues. Countries where economic development is a high priority may find that aid programs for the environment, health, and other SDGs also contribute to nonproliferation efforts through the implementation of sound chemical management policy and practices. This initial exploration established a framework upon which Botswana and its international partners can build to pursue and integrate these goals. The Stimson Center strives to continue providing forums for discussion to better understand how to leverage these disparate resources to achieve interrelated sound chemical management goals.
