UNEP launched the International Programme on Cleaner Production in 1989 with an objective of applying integrated preventive environmental strategy to increase overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and environment. In 1994, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisations (UNIDO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) joined forces to help introduce Cleaner Production in developing countries and economies in transition through the National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) programme. The UNIDO/UNEP programme is aimed at fostering dialogue between industry and government and enhancing investments for transfer and development of Environmentally Sound Technologies (EST).

Since then, the concept of Cleaner Production (CP) has rapidly been gaining ground worldwide as a strategy to increase profits while reducing pollution and waste and using energy and raw materials more efficiently. The goal of CP is to avoid or at least minimize generating pollution at source - which frequently cuts costs, reduces risks, and identifies new opportunities.

Over the last ten years, twenty-four National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) have been established under the programme in developing countries and economies in transition of which nine are in Africa. The programme focuses on understanding the forces that drive consumption patterns around the world and how to translate those findings into tangible activities for business, governments and other stakeholders.

Much of the current thinking on environmental protection focuses on what to do with wastes and emissions after they have been created. Throughout history industry has employed different strategies for environmental management. Before 1970, dilution and disposition methods were widely used while filtering was the method of choice for the 1970s. Reuse and recycling strategies were options of use in the 1980s and since the 1990s the world has since more preventive strategies such as CP and Environmental Management Systems.