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# Minimise signs LOI with UNIDO on the Global Electronics Management program

6 May 2026·3 min read

Stefan de LindeFounder & CEO

Minimise signed a letter of intent with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization ([UNIDO](https://www.unido.org/)) to support the Global Electronics Management ([GEM](https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/11553)) program. Funded by the Global Environment Facility ([GEF](https://www.thegef.org/)), this international initiative addresses the growing crisis of electronic waste across 16 developing nations by establishing practical, circular economy frameworks.

### Decoding the key acronyms and agencies

Global programs come with a lot of institutional terminology, so it helps to break down who is involved and what these agreements actually do.

* UNIDO is the specialized UN agency tasked with promoting sustainable industrial development across member states.
* GEF is a multilateral fund that provides financing for major global environmental projects.
* GEM coordinates product lifecycle improvements and material recovery in the electronics sector.

Working within these large international frameworks requires a bridge between policy goals and ground-level execution. That bridge relies on verifiable data and field-tested operations.

### What Minimise brings to the table

International agencies need tools that function in real-world conditions rather than ideal laboratory settings. Minimise provides the software infrastructure, data standards, and field coordination needed to turn high-level sustainability goals into trackable material recovery.

* Our software tracks e-waste across collection, sorting, dismantling, and recirculated material phases.
* Our data tools standardize material recovery metrics to meet extended producer responsibility requirements.
* Our ground operations integrate informal repair and recycling workers into formal tracking networks.
* Our registry infrastructure converts financial e-waste compensation into batch-level physical material tracking.

This partnership combines global policy reach with practical data collection tools. UNIDO gains access to ground-tested systems that can handle complex recycling realities across 16 countries. At the same time, Minimise expands its open data standard for recycling and material procurement with international institutional backing.

The initiative brings together a broad coalition of public and private stakeholders. UNIDO implements the program alongside core international partners including the [African Development Bank Group](https://www.afdb.org/en), the [United Nations Development Programme](https://www.undp.org/), and the [United Nations Environment Programme](https://www.unep.org/). Private sector and civil society organizations are also engaging in the effort, including hardware leaders like HP and Lenovo, industry groups like the Global Electronics Council and SERI and repair advocates like iFixit and FixFirst.

### Direct benefits for participating member states

For participating countries, setting up effective e-waste management requires more than just passing legislation. It demands infrastructure that supports local workers and tracks hazardous materials safely.

* Cities and national governments receive actionable circular electronics plans.
* Local repair workers and informal recyclers gain access to formal supply chains.
* Industrial infrastructure gets standardized metrics to enforce extended producer responsibility regulations.
* Recycling programs improve recovery rates for toxic organic pollutants, mercury, and critical raw materials.

### What comes next and the Manila kickoff

With the initial alignment and letters of intent in place, the program moves into its active rollout phase. The official program kickoff will take place in Manila, Philippines, from October 6 to 8, 2026\. This gathering will bring together country representatives, technical experts, and project partners to finalize implementation plans for national child projects, set up coordination mechanisms, and begin technical assistance on the ground.