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The Ozone Officers Network for English-speaking Africa includes
26 countries - Angola, Botswana, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia,
Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa,
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Special
assistance continues to be provided to two Portuguese-speaking countries
in the Network (Angola and Mozambique) mainly through special sessions/meetings/group
discussions as well as through the involvement of Portugal during
the meetings.
The Network is facilitated by the Compliance Assistance Programme
team based in Nairobi, Kenya consisting of the Regional Network
Coordinator (RNC), Policy and Enforcement Officer (PEO), the Refrigerant
Management Plan (RMP) Officer and the Methyl Bromide Officer. The
team provides all the CAP services to the region.
In this region, all the Implementing Agencies (IAs) of the Multilateral
Fund - UNEP, UNIDO, UNDP and the World Bank as well as bilateral
partners - France and Germany operate.
The Regional Network of ODS Officers for English-speaking African
countries provides a regular forum for National Ozone Officers aimed
at strengthening and improving the capacities of the National Ozone
Officers (NOOs) in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol;
helping NOOs to share experiences and establish cooperation among
themselves; facilitating feedback on Ozone Officers' activities,
progress made, challenges and opportunities that exist; and identifying
other needs of NOUs such as training and networking. During 2006,
the Network held a total of three meetings including a joint one
with the French-speaking Africa Network and a thematic meeting at
national level on Green Customs Initiative.
The main focus of the meetings were on achievement by countries
in the region of the reduction schedules as mandated by the Montreal
Protocol; establishment, implementation and enforcement of legislative
and regulatory mechanisms for the control and monitoring of trade
in ODSs; the harmonisation of ODS control measures in the various
sub-regions; review of implementation of the Work Plans and Business
Plans of UNEP and other implementing and bilateral agencies for
the region; compliance with recommendations of the Implementation
Committee under the Non-compliance Procedure, the decisions of the
Executive Committee and of the Meeting of Parties; stockpiling of
ozone depleting substances; promotion of synergies between the Montreal
Protocol and other Multilateral Environmental Agreements among others.
The meetings had full participation of the Implementing Agencies,
bilateral agencies, the Ozone Secretariat, the Multilateral Fund
Secretariat as well as representation from the major economic groups
in the region (SADC, COMESA, SACU, EACU, ECOWAS).
Through the OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) in
Africa there has been enhanced public awareness and the issue of
ozone layer depletion has continued to receive in-depth interest
at international and national policy level.
As part of its services, the CAP team based in ROA has continued
to provide specialized support to countries in non-compliance or
potential non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol. CAP has ensured
that projects for countries that had been subject to non-compliance
decisions and for which actions had not been taken were submitted
to the meetings of the Executive Committee in 2006. As a result,
no Party had remained in non-compliance without returning to compliance.
The CAP team in Africa focused on assisting 9 countries in the
preparation and development of Terminal Phase-out Management Plans
(TPMP) which will enable countries to ensure complete phase-out
of their residual consumption of major ozone depleting substances.
Members of the Network were vigilant against illegal trade in ODSs
as it can become one potential area with a danger of undoing all
gains under the Montreal Protocol for the last twenty years. Four
countries reported and dealt with cases of illegal trade. Developing
a system for monitoring the trans-boundary movement of controlled
ODS between Parties is therefore critical in the full implementation
of Article 4B of the Protocol. OzonAction CAP will continue its
efforts to train Ozone Officers and Customs Officers on best practices;
to raise awareness and to disseminate examples of best practices
for national licensing systems and regional cooperation to combat
illegal trade.
In addition to twelve countries that have completed the ratification
process of all the Amendments to the Protocol, all countries had
submitted complete Article 7 data for 2004 and 2005 thus achieving
total compliance in two consecutive years.
UNEP signed an MOU with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA) on the implementation of the project on harmonisation
of ODS regulations in the COMESA region. A regional workshop was
convened in Madagascar to review the policy and common regulations
on control of ODS substances. The overall goal is to eliminate ODS
in the COMESA region so as to protect human health and the environment.
The policy would provide direction and guidance for the development
and implementation of regulatory framework for ODS in COMESA member
states. Some general principles to guide the regulation of ODS have
been proposed and include promotion of the right to clean and health
environment, use of technology that promotes sustainable development,
and implementation of a system for licensing the imports and exports
of ODS. A work plan was developed for the implementation of the
project. The policy document is to be presented to the ministers
of agriculture and the Council of Ministers for final approval.
Cooperation with the World Customs Office (WCO) Intelligence Office
for East and Southern Africa was enhanced with the continuation
of the cooperation pact signed between UNEP and WCO in 2003 now
being implemented by the Regional Capacity Building Centre (RCBC).
The objectives of the Centre are to promote information sharing,
coordinate implementation of customs best practices, strengthen
competencies, and harmonize various customs procedures and processes.
The RCBC participates in activities organised by UNEP/CAP such as
Network meetings and the Green Customs Initiatives. Both organisations
are working towards the establishment of a Sub-regional Enforcement
Network for Customs Officers in East & Southern Africa.
In the coming years, the English-speaking Africa Network will emphasise
the following:
- Enhancement of collaboration between national enforcement authorities.
Better coordination at the national level, as well as strengthening
of the sub-regional cooperation will contribute to documenting
and then curbing the problem of illegal trade. Countries that
were experiencing illegal trade shall be encouraged to report
such cases to the Ozone Secretariat so that the Parties could
be assisted to address the issue.
- Improved detection of illegal trade through, among others,
putting in place legislation, enforcement by customs and police
authorities and control of re-exported ODSs.
- Carry out HCFC surveys in collaboration with IAs to assist countries
to develop strategies for early phase-out as well as adoption
of alternatives, including hydrocarbon technology;
- Strive to enlist political support at national levels to enhance
compliance with the Montreal Protocol. Members will be encouraged
to especially enlist the support of national legislative bodies
through awareness raising.
- Establishment of ODS regulations and country-specific Action
Plans and early detection of the risk of non-compliance and illegal
trade.
- Urgent consideration of destruction and/or disposal of ODSs
and ODS-based equipment.
- Active participation in discussions on the future of the Montreal
Protocol.
- TPMPs to be developed and implemented to meet 2010 phase-out.
- Network members shall seek assistance from IAs and bilaterals
to develop MDI National Strategies.
Mr Boubié Jérémy Bazyé
Regional Network Coordinator (French-speaking Africa)
UNEP Regional Office for Africa (ROA)
UN GIGIRI, United Nations Avenue
X-Block Ground Floor, West Wing
P.O.Box 30552,
G.P.O 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel.: 254 20 7624281
Fax.: 254 20 7623165
Mobile: 254 733611288
Email: Jeremy.Bazye@unep.org
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