Dear UNCSD Readers,United Nations University Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP), Operating Unit SCYCLE, organized in 2012 the first instalment of the E-waste Academy (EWA) for policymakers and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).In a formal cooperation with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), supported by United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and with the financial support of GeSI, the Dutch Compliance Scheme, NVMP, as well as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the required funding were made available.E-waste Academy (EWA) is a pioneering concept in the development of capacity on e-waste research and management to foster multi-stakeholder partnerships and establish opportunities for continued collaboration on e-waste research, policy and management. A short video highlighting the main results of 2012 Edition can be seen on our dedicated YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taq9lTNDu4I).The 2013 event is now being planned and funding is currently being acquired with pledged financial support by other UN organizations, NGOs and various national governments.For those interested in receiving a detailed concept note of the event or supporting the program please contact the EWA Organizing TEAM at ewam@unu.edu. During the first E-waste Academy policymakers and SME operators from Africa – as the target group and target region – and some participants from Central and Latin America have been selected by an international and independent committee of reviewers among application forms coming from all 6 continents, with the idea to establish and foster vital South-South cooperation. EWA 2012 took place at the UNU Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) in Accra (Ghana), having as main theme “Global collaboration to enhance local solutions along the e-waste recycling chain”. The 2012 EWA Programme was developed with two primary aims:•To reflect the theme of the Academy, providing an overview of the main aspects that are contributing to the establishment of local solutions to the global e-waste problem.•Foster group-work activities and collaboration and networking between participants coming from different backgrounds and representing different stakeholders: 4 groups were created clustering PMs/SMEs from different countries/regions.To increase the benefits of the event and allow a broader number of stakeholders to have access to the outcome of the first EWA, all expert’s presentations are available for download on E-waste Academy website (www.ewasteacademy.org). Presentations were also recorded and area available on dedicated YouTube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/EwasteAcademy).
