First Extraordinary Green Customs Partners Meeting Paris, France Friday 30 July 2010

First Extraordinary Green Customs Partners’ Meeting Paris, France Friday 30 July 2010 Green Customs Initiative Secretariat: 15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris CEDEX 09, Francewww.greencustoms.org[email protected]+33 1 44 37 14 50

CONTENTS

Summary...... 2 Meeting Participants...... 3 Introduction...... 3 UN Development Account...... 4 E-Learning: Progress and Future Plans...... 5 GCI TOOLS: Enhancing Effectiveness and ensuring sustainability...... 6 Workshops...... 7 Other issues...... 9 ANNEX I - Agenda...... 10 Appendix II – WCO e-learning Presentation...... 13

SUMMARY The first Extraordinary meeting of the Green Customs Partners was held on the 30 July 2010 at the UNEP DTIE office in Paris, France. The aim of the meeting was to give partners an opportunity to discuss current and enable better planning of future activities in the context of the new funding secured from the United Nations Development Account (www.un.org/esa/devaccount/index.html) exclusively to support Green Customs Initiative activities from 2010 -2012. One of the major activities to be delivered under this funding is the development of e-learning modules, an area in which there is much interest from the Partners. Discussion also covered the planning of Green Customs training workshops, creation of resource materials and other initiatives and information sharing. Discussions focused on the allocation, timeline and responsibilities related to using these resources. The meeting agenda is provided in Appendix I.

MEETING PARTICIPANTS

2 Green Customs Initiative Secretariat: 15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris CEDEX 09, Francewww.greencustoms.org[email protected]+33 1 44 37 14 50

Juliette Voinov Kohler - Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal - Ms Kohler represented Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm Secretariats.

Stephen Nash - Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Erie Tamale - Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – by teleconference

Mark Albon & Daniel Cardozo - Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Rajendra Shende, Jim Curlin, Ezra Clark, Ruperto de Jesus, and Saiful Ridwan (in person); Kakuko Nagatani- Yoshida (by teleconference) – OzonAction, UNEP- Division of Technology Industry & Economics (DTIE) and GCI Secretariat

Hui Fu & Thibault Hermes - World Customs Organization (WCO)

INTRODUCTION Jim Curlin (Interim Network and Policy Manager OzonAction, UNEP DTIE) opened the meeting and welcomed participants on behalf of DTIE’s Director, Sylvie Lemmet. He expressed regret that several partners – notably DELC, Ozone Secretariat and UNODC (GCI’s newest partner) could not join the meeting in person or remotely due to scheduling issues. He recalled that the Green Customs concept originated about 10 years ago through dialogue between organizations that had converging interests to build capacity of customs officers and thereby strengthen compliance with international agreements. It has been operational for about five years in earnest and it has been working without a fixed budget or dedicated staff. In spite of that, and thanks to notable contributions of different partners over the years, it has been delivering an ambitious programme of work that has been overall quite successful and recognized as such. This extraordinary meeting is coming on the heels of the annual Partners meeting, which was held on 8 February hosted by CITES. The main objective of this meeting is to discuss the recent successful resource mobilisation by UNEP OzonAction from the UN Development Account. Although the GCI Partners had already decided on a 2010 work, this meeting is required to agree on an adjusted work programme based on the UNDA requirements. He concluded by noting that the resources are significant and so is the responsibility. The concluding message was that the GCI Partners collectively have to perform and convey the results of that performance back to the entity that entrusted us with these resources, the UNDA.

Rajendra Shende, Head OzonAction, made a short presentation assessing the current status of the Green Customs Initiative (GCI) and on emerging issues of the enforcement chain that need to be considered by Partners as a priority. He suggested that the GCI partnership is unprecedented and while the Partnership should remain focused on delivering assistance to custom authorities, there are specific areas related to the enforcement chain that could be developed in parallel, or as spin-off initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of the GCI. He stated that there was a need for a structured assessment of emerging needs as well as an assessment of the extent to which GCI has penetrated countries, for example in follow up on trainings at the national level.

Mr Shende in this context indicated that future activities developed alongside GCI may include capacity building in enforcement chain (i.e. going beyond customs officers to engage with border police, prosecutors and the judiciary, for example), as is already being developed by some partners.

In response Stephen Nash, the CITES representative, informed that it had developed some CDs for the judiciary as well as for customs/enforcement officers. Juliette Kohler, the Basel representative, informed that prosecutor training was being developed, based on an outline endorsed by the convention’s Parties.

Actions:  All partners are requested to provide information on current activities within their organisations in the area of capacity building/awareness-raising for prosecutors and the judiciary.  UNEP will host a round table ‘brainstorming’ meeting on capacity building/awareness raising for prosecutors and judges principally on the issue of ozone depleting substances. All GCI Partners will be invited to attend the roundtable.  Survey of emerging needs and extent to which GCI has penetrated countries will be conducted (coordinated by the Secretariat) as a priority

UN DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT Ezra Clark, Programme Officer/Green Customs Coordinator introduced the United Nations Development Account (UNDA) project, explaining why the fund was applicable to the GCI, highlighting the main element included in the project and stressing the need for partners cooperation and contributions (financially and in kind). There was a short discussion where the representative of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) outlined the financial contribution his organisation had recently made by holding joint WCO-GCI training workshops and making in-kind contributions in the development of e-learning modules in cooperation with UNEP. It was mentioned that many other Partners contributed significant staff time to participate in workshops and create resource materials for the GCI. It was noted that Partners should keep good records of these contributions and provide them to the GCI Secretariat. It was also noted, notwithstanding the financial constraints under which most Partners operate, that it may be possible to use the fact that there is significant funding available to GCI through the UNDA, to leverage some incremental or symbolic contributions from the other partner organisations.

Actions:  There was agreement to proceed with the implementation of the UNDA project  Partners agreed to keep records of in kind contributions (e.g. staff time) and provide them to the GCI Secretariat. The GCI Secretariat will provide a suggested template for this.  GCI Secretariat prepare a budget summary to circulate  Partners agreed to continue to try to mobilise incremental or even symbolic contributions for GCI workplan activities and/or to identify potential funding sources which the GCI Secretariat could pursue on behalf of the Partnership.

E-LEARNING: PROGRESS AND FUTURE PLANS Thibault Hermes of the WCO Capacity Building Directorate presented the UNEP-WCO Joint e-learning module courses on the Montreal Protocol and Green Customs introduction which were developed by UNEP and WCO through a cooperation agreement. An overview of the WCO e-learning programme was given, it was reported that more than 250 hours of courses had been developed and that more than 15,000 customs officers around the world are reached by these tools.

Mr Hermes then described the process of creation of the Montreal and GCI modules. A demonstration of these modules and the CITES customs training module was then given. He noted that the Montreal Protocol module takes six hours to complete based on an average reader. For the full presentation please see Appendix II.

It was explained that access to the training platform is limited to registered customs officers, access is free and arranged through the national WCO contact point. The use of the modules is varied depending on the situation. In some countries various e-learning modules are mandatory for customs students. Issuing of certificates and usage statistics are available.

It was reported that there is chance for Partners to comment and suggest changes on their pages in the GCI e- learning module and provide updated information to the WCO as necessary.

The Montreal Protocol and CITES modules were made available to participants in the recent Dominican Republic GCI workshop; approximately half of the officers followed some part of the courses prior to participating in the workshop. Overall feedback received by WCO was that the customs officers were motivated and interested in using the e-learning module.

There followed a discussion on the possibility of developing e-modules with the WCO for treaties of the other Partners. While it was confirmed that it was possible for WCO to host modules produced externally, UNEP explained that development in cooperation with WCO was beneficial because of their expertise, in kind support, and their provision of a dedicated delivery/outreach platform that directly reaches customs officers. It is preferable that other courses are developed in this way, additionally so they have the same look and feel and fit in under the Green Customs approach.

There was discussion of costs and importance of having such tools available in different languages. It was stressed by the WCO that well planned and structured information makes developing the content into modules much easier. It was suggested by partners that the modules could include case studies in addition to the information materials.

The WCO agreed to create a brief document (information note) providing guidance to the Partners interested in creating such modules as to what is expected in terms of information and materials etc for WCO to most effectively create a high quality module. Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions indicated that the Executive Secretaries of the three Conventions and the Secretary General of the WCO had had an exchange of letters in April 2010 formalising the intention to proceed with the development of a joint e-learning course for the chemicals and waste conventions. OPCW and CBD also expressed interest. It was decided that once the WCO information note had been received and this was studied in reference to the existing courses, the next step would be an exchange of letters to formalise the intention to proceed.

There followed a conversation on the possibility of developing mobile tools for identification (for use in mobile phones) by customs officers. UNEP and WCO are looking into the possibilities.

Actions:  WCO will provide log-ins for partners to check their pages in the GCI e-learning module and to view the existing CITES module as an example .  Partners to provide updated information on their sections of the GCI e-learning module to the WCO as necessary  WCO to provide information note providing guidance/advice to the Partners interested in creating e- modules  Partners will consult internally and inform the GCI Secretariat whether they wish to proceed in the development of an e-learning module. Based on the requests received, the GCI Secretariat will propose a budget allocation.  The Montreal Protocol and GCI e-modules will be officially launched in cooperation with the WCO  Links to e-learning (via registration) will be created on GCI and Partner websites following further discussion with WCO as the methodology/feasibility.  Prior to development of e-learning modules, Partners are welcome to provide their CD format elearning programme to WCO Secretariat in order to upload to the e-learning platform.

GCI TOOLS: ENHANCING EFFECTIVENESS AND ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY The session was introduced, presenting the GCI as an unprecedented partnership and a great means to access customs officers around the world. It was suggested that more could be done in terms of training and skills building, in addition to simply awareness-raising. It was discussed how CITES has recently taken the opportunity of Participating in GCI workshops to provide detailed identification training and training on other aspects of CITES on issues of interest requested by the participants. For background information on CITES participants are referred to the GCI guide, which was recognised as a very important resource.

A demonstration was given of the OzonAction ozone depleting substances trade names database. There was a short discussion on the possibility of other chemical conventions cooperating to extend the scope of the database. Bilateral discussion on this will continue and report to the next Partners meeting. This was also proposed to be converted to a mobile application.

It was discussed that often at GCI workshops customs officers in their recommendations request more information on the specific conventions and on the other partner organisations. It was suggested that in many cases this information is already available and that the Partners and GCI can do a better job of outreaching and informing the relevant officers of the type of information available.

It was also agreed that the information/intelligence exchange mechanism developed by the WCO; ENVIRONET, is a most valuable tool for customs officers and that this should be given greater priority in GCI workshops, in addition to the other existing information exchange mechanisms.

Customs officers often request more practical, customs focused and ‘hands-on’ information – this should be considered by Partners in preparing/updating materials for workshops. Where possible practical demonstrations 6 Green Customs Initiative Secretariat: 15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris CEDEX 09, Francewww.greencustoms.org[email protected]+33 1 44 37 14 50 and exercises (based on paperwork) should be considered. It is acknowledged that workgroups and exercises are an effective learning process and add much variety to workshops and should be better developed within GCI. Development of joint (intra-treaty) exercises could be considered.

The proposal to have participants follow the available relevant e-modules (Montreal and CITES) was suggested to allow more detailed issues to be tacked at the workshops.

Ms. Kohler informed that the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Secretariats were organising a train-the-trainer workshop primarily aimed at the Basel and Stockholm Regional Centres from 29-30 September in Barcelona. They would be interested in having the GCI Secretariat and WCO participate.

Actions:  Partners to create ‘exercises’ and practical components for working groups to be used as part of GCI workshops  The issue of an update of the “Green Customs Guide to Environmental Agreements” is to be considered at the next Partners meeting  UNEP OzonAction will provide a short proposal on extending the existing Trade Names database to cover other GCI chemical conventions as part of the UNDA activity.  Partners to review the materials they present at GCI workshops to ensure a customs focus and best use of the time available.  OPCW to demonstrate some practical exercises to Partners at the next partners meeting.

WORKSHOPS Prior to the meeting, Partners were provided with a table prepared by the GCI Secretariat detailing the various requests (from a variety of sources) for GCI workshops. In each case a brief description of the workshop was given, the proposed participating countries, the nature of the workshop, if there was to be any additional cooperating organisation, the funding required and what was proposed by the hosting country/organisation in terms of support for local logistics etc. It was explained that in some cases funds were earmarked for particular workshops. The GCI Secretariat explained that even with the recently secured funds there were far more workshop requests than the current funding levels could satisfy.

There was discussion of the proposed planning of workshops in relation to the funding available. It was agreed where there was a significant contribution to the hosting of GCI workshops and the hosting customs authority or government had offered to cover the local logistical cost, Partners would generally give higher priority to such situations where the country demonstrates support in this way.

The need for GCI activities in Africa, as presented in the 6th Partners meeting, was reiterated. It was suggested that since 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and the year of the Tiger Summit, the Vietnam and Bangladesh workshops could be good opportunities to raise the issue of the tiger. Some other workshops were presented where there was significant cost sharing with a cooperating organisation, it was agreed these were good initiatives. The GCI Secretariat was requested to prepare a prioritised list of workshops, based on the

7 Green Customs Initiative Secretariat: 15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris CEDEX 09, Francewww.greencustoms.org[email protected]+33 1 44 37 14 50 discussions in this meeting for workshops and other activities in 2010 and early 2011. The issue will be re- visited at the 7th Partners meeting in early 2011.

A document was provided which was prepared by the OzonAction team in UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. This document presented some recommendations on content and scope of GCI workshop and activities, partnering with existing regional networks for the delivery of GCI and the usefulness of focusing activities on areas of significant trans-boundary illegal trade (e.g. ‘border hotspots’). This document was considered in the context of prioritisation of workshops.

One suggestion was to make better use of existing meetings organised by the Partners, it was suggested that GCI should add an additional day or more, which could be achieved a considerably lower cost. It was highlighted that such an approach would need considerable time (two- three months warning) to allow the necessary arrangements to be made.

The representative of one partner which did not generally participate in the customs training workshops suggested that if more information were provided on content and timing of GCI workshops, they would consider participating more in future. The GCI Secretariat agreed to provide some sample agenda form recent meetings, as well as reminding Partners that all planned meetings and concept notes and agendas (where available) were listed on the GCI intranet, and Partners were urged to make better use of this tool.

It was stated that for the WCO to hold national or regional training workshops, which could be held under the banner of Green Customs, the customs authorities of the countries in question would need to request such activities through their Regional Capacity Building Centres (although requests could also come direct from countries if the RCBCs are informed), for such workshops to be included in the WCO budget for activities in 2011 and beyond. The GCI Secretariat agreed to inform the OzonAction Regional Networks to communicate with their customs contacts in the interested countries to encourage them to forward requests to the WCO.

There was some discussion of the issuing of certificates for trainees (from both workshop and e-learning) and further the idea of awarding customs agencies with an award or ‘certification’ where a certain level of training of customs officers in GCI had been achieved. It was agreed that further discussion on the issue was required and this would be carried out at the next partners meeting.

Partners requested that more warning be given relating to requests for identifying experts for participation in workshops (at least a month).

Actions:  GCI Secretariat to prepare a prioritised list of workshops, based on discussions for 2010 and early 2011  GCI Secretariat to provide some recent sample agendas of GCI workshops  Partners to provide GCI Secretariat with details of forthcoming meeting where GCI could be presented.

OTHER ISSUES There was a discussion on funding issues. While the Partners appreciated the fact that the GCI Secretariat had been successful in securing the funding from the development account for GCI activities for the next two years,

8 Green Customs Initiative Secretariat: 15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris CEDEX 09, Francewww.greencustoms.org[email protected]+33 1 44 37 14 50 it was recognised that fundraising activities need to continue to supplement these and seek funding after the UNDA funds are used. It was reiterated that there was a need for Partner’s cooperation and contributions (financially and in kind).

It was again highlighted that while the GCI Secretariat had managed to raise funds for project activities, the issue of funding for a GCI coordinator remains a serious problem. The GCI Secretariat had tried to apply for a JPO (Junior Project Officer) and had also made a request in this regard to UNEP’s ED. The GCI Secretariat and WCO will try to reinvestigate the idea of a seconding a customs officer to support the GCI Secretariat, as the previous negotiations with French customs was unfortunately not fruitful.

OPCW reported that there was a possibility that a funding proposal to the EC in 2011 funding could include a GCI component. It was suggested that the ‘One UN country programme’ may be able to provide some co- funding for GCI workshops.

Actions:  The GCI Secretariat and WCO will reinvestigate the idea of a seconding a customs officer to support the GCI Secretariat 

The meeting was closed by Mr. Curlin.

ANNEX I - AGENDA First Extraordinary Green Customs Partners’ Meeting - Agenda Paris, France Friday 30 July 2010

Introduction 9:30 – 10:00 WELCOME AND OPENING ADDRESS Jim Curlin OzonAction, UNEP DTIE

EMERGING ISSUES OF THE ENFORCEMENT CHAIN Rajendra Shende Head, OzonAction, UNEP DTIE

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF MEETING AND ORGANISATION OF WORK Ezra Clark, GCI coordinator

Session 1 UN DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT (UNDA) 10:00 -10:45 GCI Secretariat

 Why UNDA for GCI?  Highlights of the project  Funding and timeframe  Need for Partners contributions  Review of previously-agreed 2010 GCI workplan in context of UNDA resources  Questions/ discussion

10:45 – 11:15 Coffee break

Session 2 UNDA ACTIVITY: (A) PACKAGE OF RESOURCE MATERIALS 11:15 – 12:30 E-LEARNING: PROGRESS AND FUTURE PLANS Thibault Hermes, WCO Capacity Building Directorate  Demonstration of CITES and Montreal Protocol E-learning modules  Explanation of process of developing modules

continues...

GCI Secretariat  Potential for developing similar modules for other GCI partners: priorities, needs and requirements  Languages and translation of modules  Discussion and agreement on which activities should be done and roles of the different Partners

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch break Session 3 UNDA ACTIVITY: (A) PACKAGE OF RESOURCE MATERIALS 14:00– 14:45 (C) CASE STUDIES

GCI TOOLS: HOW TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVENESS Stephen Nash, CITES

 Viewing of the GCI introductory video  Update on GCI guide translations  Developing a joint inventory of chemical names for customs officers  Requests for information from Secretariats from workshop participants  Review of GCI suitcase materials  Timetable for provision of updated materials  Discussion and agreement on which activities should be done and roles of the different Partners

Session 4 UNDA ACTIVITY: (B) WORKSHOPS 14:45 – 15:45 GCI PLANS FOR 2010 -2012: WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING GCI Secretariat

 Presentation of requests/regional priorities for workshops in 2010 and beyond based on earlier agreed 2010 GCI workplan  Discussion and agreement on which activities should be done and roles of the different Partners (taking into account DA and other funds)

15:45 - 16:00 Coffee break

Session 5 UNDA ACTIVITY: (D) COOPERATION 16:00 – 16:45 ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY

Hui Fu, WCO

 Future approach to workshops  Integrating GCI in national training curricula  Using regional/national training institutes  Promoting use of e-learning  Getting countries to better use enforcement networks and information exchange platforms 11 Green Customs Initiative Secretariat: 15 rue de Milan, 75441 Paris CEDEX 09, Francewww.greencustoms.org[email protected]+33 1 44 37 14 50

Session 6 REVISED 2010 WORKPLAN 16:45 – 17:15 GCI Secretariat

 Summary of decisions made in previous sessions  Production of Revised 2010 workplan based on the UNDA funds and revised priorities

Session 7 OTHER ISSUES 17:15 – 18:00 General discussion

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AND PLANS  Brief update on activities and workshops since 6th Partners meeting  Outreach: update on side events at Partners’ COPs/MOPs, workshops, meetings, other activities that GCI could be involved or participate in - Secretariat and Partners to provide information.

RESOURCE MOBILISATION  Secretariat’s initiatives and progress  Partner’s initiatives and progress  Future plans

STAFFING FOR GCI SECRETARIAT  Inadequate staffing, streamlining communications (better use of web)  Secretariat’s initiatives and progress  Partner’s initiatives and progress  Future plans

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

18:00 CLOSURE OF THE MEETING

APPENDIX II – WCO E-LEARNING PRESENTATION