The Thirty-fifth Meeting of the Executive Committee decided that all institutional strengthening projects and renewals shall be approved at a level that is 30 per cent higher than the historically agreed level. This will help countries carry out the new strategic framework agreed, and provide increased support for critical areas such as public awareness. The level of institutional strengthening funding noted above should prevail until 2005 when it should again be reviewed. This proposal would also include a clear commitment that this level of institutional strengthening or a level close to it should prevail for all Article 5 Parties until at least 2010, even if they should phase-out early. It should also be noted that, in addition to this direct increase in institutional strengthening funding, UNEP will, as agreed in 2000, be provided with US $200,000/year to support public awareness, and countries will receive enhanced direct support on policy and substantive issues through UNEP’s new Compliance Assistance Programme. Finally, it should be noted that countries undertaking national phase-out plans are likely to receive institutional strengthening funding at an even higher level than that anticipated above to facilitate national project implementation, as explicitly agreed in related phase-out agreements.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/35/67, Decision 35/57, para. 112(a)).
The Forty-second Meeting of the Executive Committee decided to request the Secretariat, in consultation with relevant bilateral and Implementing Agencies, to prepare a document for consideration at its 43rd Meeting on the potential implications of subsequently increasing the amounts approved for institutional strengthening projects, paying particular attention to the question of how many similar cases might be involved, indicating the problems faced by ozone units in very-low-volume-consuming-countries and the options for ensuring adequate capacity, including increased funding.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/42/54, Decision 42/22 (b), para. 90(b)).
The Forty-third Meeting of the Executive Committee decided:
(a) to supplement the lower ranges of annual funding levels for institutional strengthening for very low-volume-consuming countries and low volume consuming countries up to a threshold level of US $30,000 per year, on the understanding that:
(i) this amount could be reviewed in the context of the review of institutional strengthening funding levels due to be considered in 2005 in accordance with decision 35/57 and the review of the requirement for further assistance for countries post-2007 also foreshadowed for 2005 under decision 31/48; and
(ii) the increase to the US $30,000 threshold level would be provided on the condition that:
i. the relevant country duly assigned a full-time officer to manage the ozone unit; and
ii. a national licensing system controlling ODS imports was in place; and
(b) to consider this matter, in the context of the review of institutional strengthening funding, in 2005 and to request the Secretariat to continue to collect relevant information in that respect.
(UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/43/61, Decision 43/37, para. 128).
(Supporting document: UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/43/49).