Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme has been established by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is implemented in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The programme activities aim to generate cutting-edge scientific evidence that can improve existing knowledge of the environmental health and socio-economic impacts of selected manufacturing sectors across target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The programme will also identify technology-based solutions to address the most pressing environmental health issues associated with manufacturing in focus countries and invest in developing business processes and systems to promote the uptake of pollution control solutions. In addition, the programme will address plastic pollution and support the development of material substitution and biodegradation options.

FCDO has committed £24.6 million to the delivery of research and related interventions to meet programme objectives.The SMEP programme was commissioned in mid-2019 and will run until the end of 2024.