On October 6, 2022, the first part of the first session of the ad hoc open-ended working group (OEWG1.1) on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (SPP) was held in Nairobi, Kenya and online by the Secretariat of UNEP. This OEWG was convened as decided in resolution 5/8 of the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2). Representatives from member states, UN bodies and other international non-governmental organizations attended the meeting. Mr. Jinhui Li, Executive Director of the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific/Stockholm Convention Regional Centre for Capacity Building and the Transfer of Technology in Asia and the Pacific (BCRC China/SCRCAP), Mr. Quanyin Tan, Chief of the General Office, Ms. Yuan Chen, Chief of the Regional Chemical Management Branch and Ms. Weiyu Lin, technical assistant of BCRC China/SCRCAP, participated in the meeting online as observers. The meeting aimed to discuss the timetable, organization of work and clustering of issues in preparation of proposals for the establishment of SPP, to exchange views on establishment of the SPP, and to elect bureau members of the OEWG. The meeting adopted the rules of procedure of the OEWG and elected eight out of ten of its bureau members. The election of two representatives from the group of Eastern European States and the chair of the OEWG were postponed to the next session. Two webinars were organized prior to the meeting to provide a background for the process and to share lessons learned from existing panels. The second part of the OEWG (OEWG-1.2) will be held in person in Bangkok, Thailand, from January 30 to February 3, 2023.