Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 22 February 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Thematic Meeting on Establishment and Implementation of Competency-Based Certification, back-to-back with the Thematic Workshop on Strategy of Stage I of the Kigali HFC Implementation Plan (KIP) and Integration with the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II among the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Both meetings were held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 7-10 February 2024.
Thematic Meeting on Establishment and Implementation of Competency-Based Certification, 7 – 8 February 2024
At a previous meeting held in Vanuatu in May 2023, the PIC countries requested UNEP to assist them in enhancing their competency-based assessment approaches including assessment criteria, physical resources, and tools to implement a robust competency-based scertification program. Therefore, this meeting delved into the practicalities of establishing and implementing a competency-based certification program for the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) servicing sector in PICs.
Thirty-eight participants attended the meeting (25 male, 13 female) including, National Ozone Officers (NOOs) and representatives from the RAC industry/qualification authorities of 14 PIC Network countries, resource persons, RAC industry representative(s) from Australia, and UNEP CAP staff.
"Certification systems play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of technicians and identifying the required competencies within the trade. They strongly advocate for energy efficiency and the adherence to safe practices during the installation of equipment. These systems are crucial in equipping technicians with the knowledge necessary to adapt to the shift from fluorinated to natural refrigerants, which carries significant considerations for the installation environments of the new equipment." - Mr. Tony Nori, Solomon Islands National University Lecturer.
The meeting sessions dived deep into establishing a robust competency-based certification program for the RAC servicing sector in PICs. Experts helped analyze existing frameworks, exploring their suitability for different country contexts, particularly for those with and without established vocational training infrastructures for RAC courses.
Key discussions revolved around defining the roles and responsibilities of government authorities and the RAC industry in establishing and conducting competency assessments. To ensure the sustainability of the project, the meeting focused on the mechanisms and experiences of other countries in motivating and potentially mandating RAC technicians to participate in the certification process.
As a result of the meeting, the PICs had a better understanding with a clear roadmap for implementing an effective and sustainable competency-based certification program, ultimately raising the bar for professionalism and quality within the sector at the national level. The outcomes of this meeting serve as a starting point for the PICs to further regionalize the competency-based certification to harmonize skills and qualifications of RAC technicians in the PIC region.
"Aligning our proposed Good Servicing Practices competency certification with the standards of Australia and New Zealand can enhance regional consistency and service quality in Tonga, as well as streamline the process for our technicians to work across the Pacific countries," said Mr. Aloisio Fifita, National Ozone Officer of Tonga.
The Thematic Workshop on Strategy of Stage I of the KIP and Integration with the HPMP Stage II, 9 – 10 February 2024
As part of the Regional KIP Preparation initiative for 12 PICs, this thematic workshop brought the key actors together to chart a course for Stage I of the KIP, aiming to leverage data, collaboration, and strategic planning to lay the groundwork for successful preparation of the comprehensive Stage I of the Regional PIC KIP, ensuring effective HFC phase-down in the Pacific region. The focus was built on collaboratively defining the overall strategy and pinpointing key activities that will form the backbone of this implementation stage, considering achievements gained under the HPMP.
The participants assessed the ongoing implementation of Stage II of the HPMP, including existing regional efforts. This evaluation aimed to pave the way for exploring seamless potential linkages between Stage I of the KIP and the ongoing HPMP initiatives, maximizing efficiency and impact across both programs. By fostering open discussion and leveraging regional expertise, this workshop empowered PICs to shape a future-oriented and strategic approach to the KIP's Stage I.
The workshop sessions were designed to address crucial steps in preparing the Regional PIC KIP Stage I. Participants shared and discussed the use of HFC data across different applications, both for individual countries and the region as a whole, in light of establishing regional priorities for phasing down HFCs under Stage I of the KIP. Country-specific needs and challenges were factored into this prioritization process.
The workshop also reviewed the current progress of Stage II of the Regional PIC HPMP. Building on this foundation, participants brainstormed a comprehensive strategy and action plan for both national and regional aspects of Stage I of the KIP, exploring the linkage between Stage I of the KIP with the ongoing Stage II of the HPMP. This aims to streamline implementation and maximize efficiency across both projects.
"This workshop is critical for the PICs to understand the development process of the Multi-year Agreement project under the Multilateral Fund, which is a country-driven approach. The workshop enabled UNEP to not only know the perspective from the PIC’s National Ozone Officers and the RAC industry of overarching strategy and action plans but also harmonize the strategic direction of the Pacific under Stage I of the KIP while ensuring the individual needs of the country.” - Mr. Pipat Poopeerasupong, UNEP OzonAction, Asia and Pacific Office.
UNEP CAP team expressed its sincere gratitude to the Government of Cook Islands for hosting the meetings and the resource partners whose active participation and engagement created an environment of community and knowledge sharing.
The meetings were organized by UNEP OzonAction CAP, Asia and the Pacific Office in partnership with the Government of Australia as part of its approved 2024 Work Programme under the Multilateral Fund.
For more information:
Mr. Pipat Poopeerasupong
Interim Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Island Countries
UNEP Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)
Asia and Pacific Office
Email: poopeerasupong[@]un.org
