In its role as an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) assists developing countries through a combination of compliance assistance services and national, regional and global projects.
Services
UNEP’s primary role is to assist Article 5 countries in actual or potential non-compliance to be in compliance with their obligations under this multilateral environmental agreement (MEA). The Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) cooperates closely with the Ozone Secretariat, the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, and other Implementing Agency partners to identify countries that have difficulties in maintaining compliance or are at risk of being in non-compliance, with particular reference paid to countries in post-conflict situations.
The Regional CAP staff provide direct assistance to the National Ozone Officers and other priority and relevant stakeholders in response to specific needs identified by Article 5 countries. This assistance covers a wide range of topics including policies and enforcement, technical issues, assistance with data reporting, capacity building of new Ozone Officers, support for ratification, etc.
Projects
UNEP offers developing countries assistance with the preparation and implementation of HCFC Phase out Management Plans (HPMPs) for both Stages I and II, Institutional Strengthening projects, and technical assistance. The agency also implements national HPMP verification projects as and when requested by the Executive Committee. This assistance also includes the project development, monitoring, coordination and reporting duties required of all Implementing Agencies.
Under the approved three-year rolling Business Plan for its Montreal Protocol-related activities covering the years 2021-2023, UNEP will deliver the following projects:
- HPMP project preparation and implementation: UNEP is assisting 102 countries with Stage II preparation in accordance with Executive Committee policies and guidelines. UNEP will also assist countries with the implementation of the non-investment components of the HPMPs (both Stages I and II), in cooperation with other Implementing Agencies and bilateral agencies. In total, during this Business Plan cycle, UNEP will be the HPMP Lead Agency for 72 countries and Cooperating Agency for 30 countries. Our agency will also prepare a regional project for the Pacific Island Countries for their Stage II HPMP.
- Institutional Strengthening (IS) projects: UNEP provides 104 countries with ongoing technical assistance and administrative support for the implementation of their IS projects, including the submission of IS renewals and assistance with activities covered by these projects. UNEP will submit such projects as per the appropriate timing and when all the necessary pre-conditions have been met (e.g. disbursal rate, reporting obligations). This service is performed as part of CAP services.
- Enabling Activities projects: UNEP is providing 18 countries with technical assistance and administrative support for the implementation of their Enabling Activities (EA) projects in accordance with Executive Committee policies/ guidelines, including the submission of EA project reports for the activities covered by these projects. The activities carried out by the countries are mainly to help fulfil their initial obligations on Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) phase-down in line with the Kigali Amendment.
In addition to these projects, UNEP continues to assist several bilateral agencies with the implementation of their Multilateral Fund projects through CAP and also engages in select partnerships for Montreal Protocol objectives complementary to the Multilateral Fund.
The table depicts the network countries for which UNEP supports a number of recently approved and ongoing HPMP projects, Institutional Strengthening projects, and Enabling Activities projects.
b = Projects included in UNEP's proposed 2023 Business Plan
