To prepare countries for treaty ratification and implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, UNEP developed a series of activities, called Minamata Initial Assessments (MIAs). These activities included:

• Establishment of a national steering committee to coordinate activities related to the Convention
• Review and identification of gaps in existing national legislation related to mercury; and
• Development of a national mercury profile that includes major sectors that use mercury as well as a summary of major emission and release source types.

In the role as either an Executing Agency (with UNIDO) or as an International Technical Expert (through UNDP and UNEP), BRI assisted more than 40 countries to conduct these initial assessments..