© WWF / MAR

Promoting Cleaner Production and Private Sector Partnerships

In order to ensure the conservation of natural resources, as water, WWF implements initiatives together with other stakeholders.  This is the case of the Cleaner Production and Private Sector Partnership.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is implementing an 18-month Project to improve micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) adoption of Cleaner Production (CP) practices and technologies by supporting partnerships between universities, MSMEs and CP Centers resulting in the adoption of measureable CP practices by MSMEs, while enhancing training opportunities for students.  WWF will work with the National Cleaner Production Centers (NCPCs) in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama for the implementation of project activities and will also work in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State, universities and MSMEs in target countries. The project will build upon the previous success of the work within the framework of the Environmental Cooperation Agreements of the Free Trade Agreements (CAFTA-DR and Panama FTA), including Pathways to Cleaner Production in the Americas and Cleaner Production Private Sector Partnerships. The project will take place in watersheds of Acelhuate in El Salvador, Motagua in Guatemala, Chamelecón in Honduras, and Panama Canal in Panama.

Project Goal: is to promote MSME adoption of CP practices and technologies by supporting partnerships between universities, MSMEs and CP centers resulting in the adoption of measurable CP practices by MSMEs, while enhancing, training opportunities for students.

Project Objectives:

Objective 1: Strengthen CP and energy efficiency capacity (EE) in university instructors, students and MSME personnel.
Expected results: Increase number of university instructors, students and MSME personnel participating in CP internships or training in El Salvador, Guatemala , Honduras and Panama (225 students participating in trainings, 72 students participating in internships, 72 MSME personnel participating in training, and 20 university instructors participating in training); Increased number of stakeholders participating in CP partnerships yielding measurable results (28 stakeholders). 

Objective 2: Expand the adoption of CP and EE in MSMEs in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. 
Expected results: Increased resource efficiency and reduced consumption of materials, energy and water in participating MSMEs (120 CP recommendations, savings of 20% in materials, energy and water usage, saving of US$ 60,000); Decreased emissions and/or release of pollutants by participating MSMEs (10% reduction).

Objective 3: Increase awareness of benefits of CP and its role in integrated watershed management.
Expected results: Increased number of stakeholders with improved knowledge of CP and its role as a tool for integrated watershed management (480 stakeholders)

Progress 

  • Establishment of alliances with universities that are interested in promoting the cleaner production agenda.
  • Identification of MSME which are located near the prioritized watersheds.
  • Preparation of training programs for professors, students and MSME personnel.