First Montreal Protocol-related Online Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) remains open-for-business and is working for, and with, Member States to continue delivering on its mandate through virtual means. This includes the implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, where UNEP OzonAction and the Government of Qatar recently teamed up to deliver the first Montreal Protocol-related virtual training events organized during the time of COVID-19.

Being socially-distanced does not have to mean that people have to be disconnected from one another. With video conferencing tools and good connectivity, people who have access to the necessary IT infrastructure can benefit from distance learning. OzonAction's Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in West Asia, Qatar's National Ozone Unit and their partners recently applied this concept to deliver two activities under the country's HCFC Phase Out Management Plan, organizing highly-successful online training for refrigeration trainers and customs officers, respectively. Along the way, they demonstrated proof-of-concept and learned valuable lessons for the future.

The first remote Refrigeration Train-the-Trainer event was organized by the West Asia CAP team and the National Ozone Unit in cooperation with the University of Qatar and the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians (ATF). During the course, which was spread over three days from 30 March to 1 April, five master trainers who work in the country's refrigeration and air conditioning sector were trained, assessed and certified in specific skills needed to safely and efficiently use new refrigerants that replace ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol. The master trainers were located in Qatar (appropriately socially-distanced in the national training center), the instructor from ATF delivered presentations from Italy, and the CAP team moderated and observed from Bahrain. The arrangements for the trainee's practical assessment had to be done with particular care and adapted to remote observation by video, to ensure that the activity was done correctly in full compliance with the requirements of the European F-Gas regulations certification body.

Shortly after this experience, the first remote training of customs and enforcement officers was organized the West Asia CAP team and the National Ozone Unit in cooperation with the General Customs Authority of Qatar using the authority's recently-launched online training platform. The trainers were Mr. Khaled Klaly and Ms. Dina Kisbi from CAP, Ms. Mona Al Emadi from the National Ozone Unit, and Mr. Mohammed Khater from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. From 21- 23 April 2020, over 135 customs and enforcement officers who joined from their homes were divided into three groups and trained on enforcing ODS regulations, best practices under the Montreal Protocol to enhance monitoring and control of controlled substance, and how to combat illegal trade. Trainees were given the chance to interact with the trainers, question, ask comments, and make interventions. At the conclusion of the training, Mr. Ahmad Al-Jammal, Head of the General Authority of Customs and Mr. James Curlin, Acting Head of OzonAction, providing closing remarks, both acknowledging the great work by the different partners and confirming that this was only possible due to collaborative efforts. Mr. Abd Al Rahman Alabd Al Jabbar, Head of Radiation & Chemicals Protection Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment stated that ” We are appreciative of all efforts done to successfully implement the activities under the HPMP during such difficult circumstances, and we will be working towards actively achieving the set goals on behalf of Qatar under the Montreal Protocol.”

Both refrigeration sector training and the customs training are traditionally conducted face-to-face with trainees gathered in a classroom with their trainers and include a hands-on practical session. In this case, all of this had to be adapted to remote delivery. The CAP team and National Ozone Unit had a number of concerns when organizing these trainings, varying from issues related to the connectivity, ensuring that the right software and hardware was available, managing a high number of trainees while ensuring their full engagement, and guaranteeing that material is delivered effectively within the short duration of the training sessions. The hands-on components with equipment, which posed a specific challenge, had to be performed through video inspection of the trainee's work (in the case of the refrigeration training) or by use of a training video (in the case of the customs training).