The SMEP Programme builds on a scoping study carried out by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and York University, which identified several key industries in SSA and SA, namely food and beverages, textiles, chemicals, electrical equipment, and metals and the environmental and health impacts of these.

To complement this study, SMEP funded further exploration to obtain country- and sector-focussed insights and unpack these findings into potential areas for future SMEP funding of large-scale targeted research and possible interventions at a regional, country or more granular level.

As part of the SMEP prioritisation work for South Asia, Pure Earth presented highpriority interventions/solutions to reduce environmental impacts and human health exposure from lead contamination from the Tanneries and Used Lead-Acid Batteries (ULAB) sectors in Bangladesh.