Project 1: Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building
COUNTRY:
Republic of ESTONIA IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: UNEP
PROJECT TITLE:
INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
PROJECT IN CURRENT BUSINESS PLAN:
Yes
SECTOR/ SUBSECTOR:
All
ODS USE IN SECTOR: (1998)
59.3
PROJECT IMPACT:
Not applicable
PROJECT DURATION:
36
Months
US$
US$
US$
US$
241,000
5,000
N/A
246,000
PROJECT COSTS:
Incremental Capital Cost
Contingencies
Incremental Operating Cost
Total Project Costs
MT ODP
LOCAL OWNERSHIP:
100%
EXPORT COMPONENT:
0%
REQUESTED GRANT:
US$
196,000
COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
US$/kg/y (threshold not applicable)
EXECUTING AGENCY FEE (8%):
US$
15,680
TOTAL COST OF PROJECT TO GEF:
US$
211,680
STATUS OF COUNTERPART FUNDING:
US$
45,000
PROJECT MONITORING MILESTONES INCLUDED:
Included (see Wok Plan)
NATIONAL COORDINATING BODY:
Ministry of the Environment
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Ministry of the Environment of Estonia is responsible for matters pertaining to the Vienna Convention, the
Montreal Protocol and the London Amendment. Currently, the human and technological resources available to the
Ministry to address Ozone issues are limited, which becomes a significant handicap for the implementation of
projects and strategies formulated as part of the Country Programme and the Refrigerant Management Plan, to
phase-out ODS in Estonia. The number of the current staff is inadequate for effectively monitoring and reporting
on the ODS consumption in the country. The limited institutional capacity therefore inhibits the Ministry’s ability
to enable the country to meet the obligations of the Montreal Protocol. This project will strengthen the national
institutional capacity to effectively co-ordinate and administer the actions outlined in the Country Programme and
the Refrigerant Management Plan. In addition this subproject will contain a component to train customs officers
and provide them with ODS detection kits.
1.
Project Description
The Ministry of Environment in Estonia is responsible for matters relating to the Vienna
Convention and the Montreal Protocol. It has been taking an active part in this work since its
establishment in 1992. However the Ministry is a small one with an increasing number of
international obligations both on a global and a European basis. Despite the country's relatively
small consumption, there is considerable awareness of an interest in Estonia in the Ozone issue.
However, given the extensive environmental problems of water and air pollution inherited from
the Soviet period, the human and technological resources that the Ministry can make available to
address ozone issues are very limited. This will make it difficult to implement at least some of
projects and strategies identified in the Country Programme and the Refrigerant Management
Plan. In addition the current staff, which the Ministry has allocated to the issue, has experienced
difficulty in monitoring and reporting on ODS consumption. In particular the Ministry has
experienced difficulties in monitoring the growing transit trade in ODS which appears to be
occurring with Estonia being used as a transit point between Russia and Europe. This limited
institutional capacity thus inhibits the Ministry's ability to meet obligations of the Montreal
Protocol.
This project will thus strengthen the national institutional capacity to co-ordinate effectively and
administer the actions outlined in Estonia's Country Programme and Refrigeration Management
Plan.
2.
Project Objectives
The main objective of the project is to strengthen the national capacity in order to facilitate the
efficient and effective co-ordination and administration of ozone matters. More specifically, the
project seeks to:
Establish a National Ozone Unit within the Ministry of Environment, Air and Radiation
Division,bwhich will be responsible for administering matters relating to the Montreal Protocol,
the Country Programme and the Refrigerant Management Plan (RMP);
Undertake all actions identified in the Country Programme and RMP and monitor their
implementation;
Undertake a feasibility study to establish a legal and regulatory system, including a licensing
system, for ODS management. Formulate and introduce an Ozone Law;
Develop and implement training of trainers in improved servicing and maintenance practices for
refrigeration and develop a licensing system for refrigerator service personnel;
Develop public awareness campaigns through the mass media and NGOs to increase
consciousness of the general public, and demonstrate and promote the strategy for the
accelerated phase-out. Develop an effective and efficient documentation center and information
Focal Point to disseminate information on ozone matters, both on request and via public
awareness programmes. Development of a national TV educational programme on the issue of
ozone depletion. The Ministry on this aspect through TV awareness has already developed some
work and the Estonian Green Movement has substantial experience in this matter;
Develop a system of incentives and disincentives on the use of ODS and of a quota system for
control of imports of ODS;
Introduce a ban on ODS emissions and on the imports of ODS using or containing equipment;
Develop a monitoring system for ODS imports in order to comply with reporting requirements of
the Montreal Protocol, track progress of ODS phase-out, and support the licensing, the quota and
the incentive and disincentive systems;
Co-ordinate training for a number of Custom Officials to facilitate the implementation of
procedures for using tariff classifications within the Harmonized System, and to extract and
report data on trading in ODS;
Co-ordinate and monitor the activities of the recovery and recycling project and establish a data
bank on the quantities recovered and recycled;
Support and encourage local industry and technical institutes to adopt ODS-free substitute
technologies;
Identify opportunities for bilateral international co-operation;
Report annually to the Ozone Secretariat on the ODS consumption in the country according to
Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol;
Report annually to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on the progress of implementation of
the Country Programme. Assist in the preparation of budgets and advise on the release of funds
from the Facility; and
Maintain regular contact with all international agencies e.g. UNEP, GEF, EU concerned with
international climate issues and supply them with relevant situation reports on Estonia
3.
Project Organization and Management
A National Ozone Unit will be established in the Air and Radiation Division in the Ministry of
Environment with the responsibilities listed above. One full time professional officer and an
assistant will run the office with the assistance of local consultants and experts on legal and
refrigeration technology matters. The National Ozone Unit will receive support from other
divisions of the Ministry, from the National Board of Health, the Statistical Office of Estonia, the
Customs Departments and the relevant Universities and Ministries. The professional officer will
be the co-coordinator of the National Action Plan activities and will report to the Chancellor of
the Ministry and to the Head of the Air and Radiation Division. He/she will chair the National
Ozone Team and will prepare biannual reports on the progress of implementation. The
organization of the activities of the office and the reporting procedures will follow the
requirements for UNEP DTIE sponsored activities.
4.
Project Budget
The detailed budget for this project is given in the table below. Funding is requested from the
Global Environment Facility to cover part of the costs of equipment, staffing, printing costs,
public awareness materials and campaigns. The budget also includes funding to cover the costs
of the participation of UNEP-DTIE in the project, including assistance to the Government of
Estonia and monitoring the activities in the RMP and evaluation of the project. Of particular
importance here is the Capacity Building component, which provides for the equipment and
training of Customs officers in the detection of CFCs. This is of particular importance in Estonia,
which appears to be used as a convenient transit country for the export of CFCs from Russia.
This component is relevant in CIS countries adjoining Russia and has been provided for in
countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
The Government contribution to the project will include office space, local telephone, office
furniture, staff time from other Government of Estonia organizations and local travel. The
estimated contribution is given below.
Project Budget
COST ITEM
1. Institutional Strengthening
EQUIPMENT: Purchase and use of equipment; including microprocessor, printer,
modem, software, power regulator, photocopying machine, telephone, fax.
STAFFING: Project Coordinator, professionals, assistants and secretary
2000
2001
2002
10,000
TOTAL
US$
10,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
45,000
OPERATING COSTS: Including telecommunication charges, service charges, office
supplies and equipment maintenance
10,000
10,000
5,000
25,000
PUBLIC AWARENESS: Broadcasting, printed media campaigns
15,000
14,000
7,000
36,000
Sub-total
50,000
39,000
27,000
116,000
2 Strengthening of the Customs Committee
CFC Detector KITs
16,000
16,000
8,000
7,000
4,000
12,000
47,000
1,000
8,000
56,000
8,000
114,000
8,000
47,000
8,000
35,000
8,000
7,000
4,000
12,000
47,000
1,000
8,000
56,000
24,000
196,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
45,000
129,000
62,000
50,000
241,000
International Consultant; including fees, travel and DSA
Local consultant
1 day hands-on workshop
3 days National Workshop on monitoring and licensing
Sub-total
Contingencies
Substantive assessment and coordination of technical and policy related issues
Sub-total
Project Support Services
TOTAL GEF
Government Contribution
LOCAL OFFICE: Office space, office furniture and maintenance, local telephone. etc.
Total Project Cost