5 May 2020, Doha, Qatar – The COVID-19 pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on the world, what UN Secretary General António Guterres calls "a public health emergency… an economic crisis, a social crisis and a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis." While the world is grappling with this multifaceted challenge, most of humanity is now experiencing the “Great Lockdown” where in-person gatherings have been replaced by social distancing to protect public health. In this "new normal" context, 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).
From the experience, it is highly recommended to prepare well in advance – preparations prior to the actual training are the key to success. Testing the platform, the setup, discussing the details and flow of the agenda, who moderates and who gather questions from trainees need to be agreed in advance. Conducting a demonstration with representatives from the different parties is very important to test the set-up before the actual training. Additionally, providing trainees with a procedural and checklist document before the actual training is vital. During the training, understanding and flexibility should be practised by all involved. Language preferences, the general organizational setup, and the country's regulatory framework were all taken into account when the training events were organized. It is definite that “one size fits all” does not apply here, but surely the experience is applicable everywhere when local circumstances permit.
It is not surprising that this "e-initiative" comes from Qatar. Although live online training is a relatively new practice under the Montreal Protocol, electronic platforms are not new for Qatar. The Government was a leader of paperless meetings under the Montreal Protocol, when they promoted the concept for the 20th Meeting of the Parties that they hosted in Doha in 2008. That paperless tradition was subsequently adopted throughout the Montreal Protocol community.
OzonAction CAP is working closely with other countries and partners to pursue similar distance learning opportunities in the context of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
For more information:
Khaled Klaly
Montreal Protocol Regional Officer
for West Asia, UNEP OzonAction
Email khaled.klaly[at].org
