This document outlines the project application process to the Special Programme. It aims to assist developing countries taking into account special needs of least developed countries and small island developing States, and countries with economies in transition to develop projects to support institutional strengthening at the national level for implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention, and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). Within the guidelines, sections 1 to 8 describe the Special Programme and how the Special Programme project application can be developed. Sections 9 to 10 provide guidance for Governments to develop the Special Programme project applications for the third round of applications. Section 11 informs of the next steps once the project application is submitted to the Special Programme Secretariat. The document also includes a schematic on the Special Programme project application development process and the Terms of Reference for the Special Programme. The application guidelines supersede the previous application guidelines launched during the 2nd round of applications by taking on board the comments provided by proponents of previous applications and those provided by the Executive Board of the Special Programme at their 3rd meeting held from 2 to 3 December 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. The present document is an unedited advance copy and will be made available for the launch on 23 February 2018 with the deadline of 21 June 2018. An edited version of the application guidelines, together with language versions in Arabic, French and Spanish will be available on the Special Programme website by mid-March 2018.