PROMAR Guyana Closes with a Week of Policy Dialogue, Circular Economy Innovation and Celebration

Day 1: Policy Dialogue with the EPA (October 12)

The week opened with a technical and policy meeting at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Boardroom in Georgetown, with the University of Guyana’s PROMAR Team, the EPA, UNEP and adelphi. The project team presented results across source-to-sea monitoring, marine litter interception, baseline shoreline sampling at Unity Beach, material flow analysis, two Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) surveys and community-based circular economy pilots. The Circular Economy Laboratory and the Coastal Waste-to-Value initiative were also highlighted, along with community collection and recycling approaches, a waste-for-token concept and circular design training.

Discussions then turned to policy support, including the project’s contributions to the review of the 2014 Solid Waste Management Bill, draft Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and deposit-refund proposals, a policy brief, and the May 2025 National Dialogue on Marine Litter Prevention and Plastic Waste Management. Reported results included 2,088 participants in training, awareness and stakeholder workshops, 370 participants in clean-ups, approximately 2,343.3 kg of waste collected through clean-up and sampling, 15 educational posters and 5,451 social media engagements. The session closed with a discussion on monitoring, data sharing, indicators and partnerships, supporting the shift from project implementation to institutional ownership.

Day 2: Circular Economy Expo and Green Finance Dialogue (October 13)
 

The public-facing highlight of the week was the Guyana-PROMAR Circular Economy Expo 2026, held at the Sattaur and Ameena Gafoor Multipurpose Auditorium at the University of Guyana under the theme “From Waste to Resource: Building Circular Economy Pathways for Cleaner Coasts and Communities.” More than 300 visitors attended (a reported estimate, since many did not sign in), including entrepreneurs, government representatives, academics, students and community groups. Twenty-seven organizations and groups exhibited recycled and upcycled products made from glass, coconut shells, plastic and wood, along with crafts, jewelry, plants and other local goods. The PROMAR stand featured 3D-printed items and products made from recycled plastic, while the Circular Economy Laboratory and Coastal Waste-to-Value initiative were showcased through live demonstrations of plastic sorting, shredding and filament production.

Tracy Phillips of the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat stressed that preventing marine litter requires action across the full product life cycle, not just cleanup. Amarnath Munnolimath of adelphi emphasized that people and partnerships are what turn technology and reports into lasting change.

In the afternoon, a roundtable, green finance dialogue and networking session at the Education Lecture Theatre connected recycling initiatives with business finance. The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) presented three options for entrepreneurs and small businesses: Green Loans, Small Business Bureau loans (up to GY$30 million) and GBTI GROW (unsecured lending up to GY$2 million). adelphi added an international perspective, pointing to possible grants and technical assistance from sources such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Climate Initiative (IKI/ICI). These are avenues to explore rather than confirmed funding, and follow-up could include developing bankable proposals and mapping suitable funding calls.

Green Finance Dialogue 

Later the same day, a roundtable, green finance dialogue and networking session at the Education Lecture Theatre connected plastic recovery and recycling initiatives with business finance and potential investment partners. Participants included industry, recyclers, government, academia, entrepreneurs and exhibitors.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) presented three options for entrepreneurs and small businesses: Green Loans, Small Business Bureau loans (up to GY$30 million) and GBTI GROW (unsecured lending up to GY$2 million). adelphi added an international perspective, pointing to possible grants and technical assistance from sources such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Climate Initiative (IKI/ICI). These are avenues to explore rather than confirmed funding, and follow-up could include developing bankable proposals, clarifying eligibility and mapping suitable funding calls.

Day 3: Closing Ceremony (October 14)

The official Closing Ceremony took place at the Grand Coastal Inn on the East Coast Demerara. Led by the University of Guyana under Professor Temitope Oyedotun (Team Lead) and Seon Hamer (Coordinator), the program featured project videos, opening remarks from adelphi and UNEP, a presentation of project outcomes, partner and community reflections, and commitments on legacy and sustainability, with a song and a dance adding to the occasion. Twenty-two individuals and institutions were recognized for their contributions, and 20 participants who completed the Short Course on Plastic Bottle Recycling received their certificates. The ceremony received wide national coverage on October 23, 2026, in the Guyana Chronicle (print and online), iNews Guyana, UG Press, Village Voice and Demerara Waves, along with social media sharing.

Day 4: Sustainability Meeting (October 15)

The project team, UNEP, adelphi and the Guyana EPA met at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus to plan how the project’s gains can last, covering ownership, financing, data, partnerships, responsibilities and timelines. Tracy Phillips presented the close-out requirements under the Project Cooperation Agreement, which currently ends on November 30, 2026. She noted that holding the closing events does not end the University’s obligations: final progress, expenditure and monitoring reports, an asset inventory, supporting documentation and records retention are still required, with UNEP confirmation needed before any equipment is handed over or returned.

Amarnath Munnolimath focused on sustaining the Circular Economy Laboratory, noting that keeping the equipment is not enough. The lab also needs trained staff, maintenance, safe procedures, reliable plastic feedstock and regular use by students and researchers. Possible continuation paths include integration into university teaching and research, supervised practical training, partnerships with local businesses and environmental organizations, and new proposals to development partners. These are opportunities to pursue, not secured funding.

Day 5: Team Reflection Outing (October 16)

The week ended with an informal outing for 17 members of the Guyana-PROMAR, UNEP and adelphi teams, including Professor Oyedotun, Seon Hamer, Tracy Phillips and Amarnath Munnolimath. After several days of technical sessions, the outing gave the team space to reflect on shared experiences, acknowledge each person’s contribution and strengthen the relationships built through the project. It highlighted that monitoring, research, awareness and waste-to-value work all depended on teamwork across national, regional and international partners, and that keeping these networks active can support future knowledge exchange and cooperation.

A Foundation for What Comes Next

Across the five days, the closing events showed how far Guyana-PROMAR has come: evidence that informs policy, a Circular Economy Laboratory that turns plastic waste into products, trained people and local enterprises, and partnerships that reach from communities to financial institutions. The project’s formal agreement runs until November 30, 2026, and final reporting and close-out remain ahead. The lasting measure of its impact will be how the University of Guyana, its partners and local enterprises keep using the technology, skills and relationships built along the way, toward cleaner coasts and a more circular economy in Guyana.