French-speaking Africa
Regional Network of Ozone Officers

The formation of the Ozone Officers Network for French-Speaking Africa was approved at the 12th Executive Committee Meeting in March 1994 (AFR/SEV/12/TAS/09). To-date this network comprises of 26 members: twenty two French-speaking (Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic), Democratic Republic of Congo (D. R. C), Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia), three Portuguese speaking African countries (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome & Principe) and one Spanish speaking (Equatorial Guinea that became party to the Montreal Protocol in 2006).

Besides UNEP and its partner Implementing Agencies (UNIDO, UNDP and the World Bank), this network receives bilateral support from Canada and France.

To efficiently run the French-speaking network and organise network meetings based on the needs of the countries, the Regional Network Coordinator (RNC) based at UNEP Regional Office for Africa in Nairobi, is assisted by a Policy and Enforcement Officer, a Refrigerant Management Plan (RMP) Officer and a Methyl Bromide Officer.
Together with this team of experts the RNC oversees and addresses the needs of the 26 "French-speaking Ozone Units".

More than a decade after its establishment, it is evident that the Ozone Officers in this network have matured successfully to become more capable in coordinating the implementation of country programmes, refrigerant management plans, institutional strengthening and other key projects.

Patterns of Achievement, Africa and the Montreal Protocol Read about the progress made by African countries in meeting their commitments under the Montreal Protocol

Highlights

During 2006, UNEP organized two regular network meetings for this network, one of them being organized jointly with the English-speaking network where the main issues were successful completion of the RMPs and the trend in achieving 85% reduction in CFC consumption by 2007. One other major focus for the 2006 network meetings was the preparation of the Terminal Phase-out Management Plans (TPMPs).

Since the launch of the Compliance Assistance Programme in 2002 activities of this network were extended to include direct compliance assistance to countries in the region through implementation of capacity building projects (institutional strengthening and training activities).

The regional CAP team was in charge of the implementation of the non-investment component of RMPs in twenty four countries in the network through training of refrigeration technicians and customs officers as well as setting up of ODS regulations. The team is also coordinating 25 Institutional Strengthening projects in the region. In the past 2 years the CAP team facilitated 19 South-South cooperation missions of Ozone Officers, refrigeration experts and customs officers within the network to assist in training programmes in other countries as resource persons. Based on the results achieved in the first phase of the RMP, twenty-four countries in the French-speaking African network (most of the LVCs) have requested UNEP to take the lead in the preparation and implementation of their Terminal Phase-out Management Plan (TPMP) in view of the total phase-out by 2010. Some of those countries have requested UNEP to be the only Agency for the implementation of these TPMPs. To-date only one country within this network is still awaiting enactment of their ODS regulations.

Achievements

One Important achievement of the support provided by UNEP through the regional CAP is the enhancement of national competencies. As a result of networking, training for major stakeholders and technical advices, most countries are now confident in facing the remaining challenges for the coming years in securing total phase-out of main substances by 2010 with limited funding for non-investment activities using national expertise. Indeed many NOUs have taken in assessing their country's status and identifying their future need.

South-South cooperation has also increased within the region. Many Ozone Officers are now being used as resource person/consultants by Implementing Agencies to assist neighboring countries with preparations and implementation of projects for phase-out.

Another achievement of this network in the past 2 years was the enactment and effective enforcement of harmonised sub-regional ODS regulations involving fourteen member countries of the French-speaking network and members of two sub-regional economic organizations. UNEP organized three sub-regional consultations that led to the adoption of harmonised ODS regulations for the two French-speaking Central and West African sub-regions under the auspices of CEMAC (Economic and Monetary Community for Central Africa) and UEMOA (Economic and Monetary Union of Western Africa). The Secretariats of the two organizations have become active members of the network and are now taking the lead to ensure effective enforcement of control measures in direct consultation with the National Ozone Units.

Particular attention was given to ratification of the Montreal Protocol by Equatorial Guinea; the ratification documents being channeled through the Ozone Secretariat with the support of the CAP team. Equatorial Guinea became Party to the Montreal protocol on 6 September 2006 and immediately identified UNEP as the lead agency for the preparation of its country programme.

Future Key Objectives

• The Africa French-speaking network will focus on the following issues:
• " Expedite process for preparation of TPMPs in LVCs for approval by end of 2007 to allow countries to achieve total phase out of most ODS by 1January 2010. This will be done in close collaboration with other agencies in charge of investment activities (UNDP and UNIDO). Countries are expected to play a leading role throughout this process to ensure measures identified in the TPMPs are fully endorsed by major stakeholders in the countries. The process will include sub-regional thematic meetings for NOU and their national experts to exchange views on suitable activities to ensure effectiveness of the TPMP. Three sub-regional thematic meetings are planned to that effect (2 French-speaking and 1 Portuguese speaking).
• " Initiate studies and surveys on use of HCFC in the region and identify activities for its phase-out.
• " Guide NOUs to ensure full enforcement of ODS regulations adopted at national and sub-regional level.
• " Enhance collaboration of customs authorities and Ozone Officers in regional trade blocks such as, COMESA, ECOWAS in Montreal Protocol related information exchange and control of illegal ODS trade and ensure full involvement of French-speaking countries in those blocks. This will be done in addition to ongoing cooperation with CEMAC and UEMOA. The Regional CAP team intends to facilitate bilateral Customs meetings between neighboring countries at border points (Senegal/Mali, Burkina Faso /Togo) and sub-regional customs meetings, CEMAC and UEMOA.
• " Effective cooperation at national and sub-regional levels will be encouraged to build synergies and promote the integration of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) especially those dealing with chemicals. Further awareness on Green Customs Initiative (GCI) with the aim of implementing at national and sub-regional level.
• " Help countries setup national mechanisms to ensure sustainability of total phase out of CFCs, Halons and Solvent after 2010.
• " Promote cooperation between North-African countries mostly to exchange experiences on Methyl Bromide and Halons phase out.