Project Overview

The Institutional Strengthening phase 13 (IS XIII) project supports Lebanon’s continued compliance with the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment by strengthening national systems for Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) licensing, quota enforcement, institutional coordination, and capacity development. The project focuses on regulatory enforcement, import control, stakeholder engagement, and technical capacity building across government institutions, importers, technicians, and training centers. It also prepares Lebanon for the HFC phase-down obligations under the Kigali Amendment, while ensuring sustained compliance with HCFC phase-out targets.
The project positions UNDP as a trusted technical and implementation partner, capable of delivering complex compliance-driven environmental projects under challenging national circumstances.

Project Objective

• Ensure full compliance with Montreal Protocol control measures, including the 2025 HCFC reduction target and maintain effective ODS/HFC licensing and quota systems in line with Decree 3277/2016.
• Support timely updates and enforcement of national ODS/HFC legislation and issue and operationalize Ministerial Decisions related to importer registration, quotas, and sectoral bans.
• Strengthen coordination between Ministry of Environment, Customs, LIBNOR, IRI, vocational institutes, and private sector stakeholders and reinforce the operational role of the National Ozone Unit as the national compliance focal point..
• Initiate implementation of the HFC Phase-Down Strategy under the Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP). Support conversion of manufacturing enterprises and MSMEs to low-GWP alternatives and advance national cooling planning and standards development.
• Prepare and submit Article 7 Data Reports and Country Programme Reports and strengthen monitoring of imports through improved data systems and customs enforcement..
   

Achievements & Key Figures

Compliance & Regulation
 

• 75% reduction in HCFC baseline consumption achieved.

• Full compliance with 2025 Montreal Protocol targets ensured.

• Enforced ODS/HFC licensing and quota system under Decree 3277.

• Issued Ministerial Decision for 2026 importer registration.

• Prepared 2026 HCFC and HFC import quotas.

Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement
 

• Importers Workshop conducted (February 2025).
• Workshop for registered RAC importers on licensing and quotas.
• Call for new RAC importers launched (October 2025).
• Call for RAC technicians issued (October–December 2025).

Institutional Strengthening & Standards
 

• Engagement with Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR) to advance Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and national standards for RAC equipment.

• Collaboration with Industrial Research Institute (IRI) to establish national refrigerant testing capacity.

• Support to Customs for enhanced enforcement, monitoring, and on-site refrigerant verification.

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

 The project is designated with a GEN1 gender marker. Although primarily technical in nature, it integrates gender equality and social inclusion throughout project planning and implementation in line with the Multilateral Fund Gender Policy. The project actively promotes the participation of women in Montreal Protocol activities, including technician training programmes, importers' workshops, and stakeholder consultations. It also supports female instructors through "train-the-trainers" initiatives and encourages greater enrolment of women in RAC vocational education, helping address the gender imbalance in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. Gender considerations are integrated into project planning and reporting, while sex-disaggregated data are collected for all relevant training and capacity-building activities to monitor participation and inform future interventions. Through inclusive engagement with government institutions, academia, NGOs, vocational training centres, and the private sector, the project ensures transparent decision-making and broad stakeholder representation.