1. At its resumed fifth session, held in Nairobi and online from 28 February to 2 March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme, by its resolution 5/8, decided that a science-policy panel should be established to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution, with details to be further specified according to the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 of the resolution. 2. In addition, the Environment Assembly decided to convene, subject to the availability of resources, an ad hoc open-ended working group that would commence its work in 2022, with the ambition of completing it by the end of 2024. The Environment Assembly further requested the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide a secretariat for the ad hoc open-ended working group and to prepare the analytical and summary reports necessary for its work. 3. The present note has been prepared by the UNEP secretariat to the ad hoc open-ended working group and sets out the proposed plans and general expectations for the first session of the ad hoc open-ended working group on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. It is intended to assist participants in their preparations for the first part of the first session.