The creation of the National 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 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 a 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, France and Switzerland.
To efficiently run the French-Speaking Network and organize network meetings based on the needs of the countries, the Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team at the UNEP Africa Office in Nairobi is led by the Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator.
More than two decades after its establishment, it is evident that the Ozone Officers in this network have matured to become more capable of coordinating the implementation of country programmes, HCFCs management plans (HPMPs), institutional strengthening and other key projects.
Achievements
- All African countries in the French-Speaking Network are in compliance with Montreal Protocol. Some eliminated CFC use well ahead of the deadline, which shows political will and implementation capability.
- To sustain the total phase out of CFCs and CFCs using equipment countries are continuing to monitor the enforcement of bans on the import of CFC and CFC based equipment.
- There has been a strong commitment by the CAP team to training Customs Officers in order to control the illegal importation/exportation of refrigerants by demonstrating the use of refrigerant identifiers to check the quality of refrigerants that are being imported and control the quality of refrigerants being imported or exported.
- Support has been provided by the CAP team to enhance national competencies. As a result of networking, training for major stakeholders, and technical advice, most countries are now confident in facing the remaining challenges for the coming years in securing the total phase-out of main substances with limited funding for non-investment activities using national expertise. Many NOUs have taken part in assessing their country's status and identifying their future needs.
- Through the CAP team in Africa, there has been enhanced public awareness and ozone layer depletion has continued to receive in-depth interest at international and national policy levels.
- South-South cooperation has also increased within the region. Many Ozone Officers are now being used as resource persons/consultants by Implementing Agencies to assist neighbouring countries with preparations and implementation of projects for phase-out.
Future objectives
The Africa French-speaking Nnetwork will focus on the following issues:
- Sustained total phase out of CFCs and CFCs using the equipment.
- Guide NOUs to establish legislative and regulatory frameworks at national level to prepare for the ratification of the Kigali Amendment.
- Guide NOUs to ensure full enforcement of ODS regulations adopted at national and sub-regional levels.
- Experts representing the Member States of ECOWAS should recommend the adoption of the text by the competent bodies of the ECOWAS in order to implement the Kigali Amendment at the 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 neighbouring countries at border points (Senegal/Mali, Burkina Faso /Togo) and sub-regional customs meetings, CEMAC and UEMOA.
- Promote cooperation between African countries mostly to exchange experiences on HPMP implementation and implementation of the Kigali Amendment.
- Promote low GWP HCFCs alternatives.
- Encourage countries to control HCFCs second-hand based equipment.
- Establishment of ODS regulations and country-specific Action Plans and early detection of the risk of non-compliance and illegal trade.
- Active participation in discussions on the future of the Montreal Protocol.
- The multiplication of training for customs officials at the border level on the identification of refrigerants and better control of identification devices.
- Capacity building is particularly reserved for refrigeration technicians in informal workshops.
- The establishment of a certification system for technicians and professionals in Refrigeration and air conditioning.
- The creation of a group of media professionals (journalists, communication specialists) to support and disseminate information from the Senegal Ozone program, the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali amendment.
- Ban the import of equipment based on HCFCs and second-hand HCFC based equipment.
- Ban on the use of HCFC-141b for flushing.
- Establish control of HCFC emission/venting control measures.
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REGIONAL CONTACTS
Main Contact:
Mr Yamar Guissé
Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator for French-Speaking Africa
OzonAction CAP team - Africa
