On October 10-11, officials from 21 French-speaking African countries gathered in Tunis, Tunisia, for the third Twinning Workshop edition for Montreal Protocol officers, energy policymakers, and finance officials, organized by UNEP’s OzonAction. The workshops aimed to enhance skills, build awareness on the Montreal Protocol, and strengthen partnerships to drive sustainable refrigeration and energy efficiency initiatives.
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) took part as an expert partner, represented by Souhir Hammami, Director of Scientific and Technical Information, and Marco Duran, Head of Policy and Global Partnerships. Ms. Hammami’s keynote focused on the essential role of energy efficiency in the refrigeration sector, while Mr. Duran covered critical policies for energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigeration systems. Both IIR representatives also facilitated breakout sessions to foster cross-functional collaborations among officials.
This workshop series, previously held in 2018 and 2019, focuses on the Kigali Amendment goals to the Montreal Protocol, including phasing down HFCs and enhancing energy efficiency in refrigeration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For 2024, the scope expanded to include financial focal points, underscoring the importance of mobilizing resources through mechanisms like the Multilateral Fund, Green Climate Fund, and philanthropy.
Workshop objectives centered on advancing policy coordination, sharing progress, exploring financing synergies, and encouraging ongoing communication to support sustainable refrigeration solutions across French-speaking Africa.
