Project 069 (IfS): High risk chemical facilities and risk mitigation in the African Atlantic Façade Region (INSTASUR)

Context

This action was the continuation of the previous project 41, entitled “High risk chemical facilities and risk mitigation in the African Atlantic Façade region”, which allowed achieving the following results:

• Creation of a regional team composed of 80 experts;
• Acquisition of various competences through training of more than 1.000 people on the identification of hazardous chemicals, the classification of facilities, as well as hazard studies, pollution risk mitigation measures, emergency and recovery plans;
• Development of best practices educational modules;
• Implementation of these good practices and recommendations on legal framework.

Overall objective

Contribute to secure the economic development of the African Atlantic Façade (AAF) and the growth of an efficient industrial sector that is not a source of risk for the population.

Specific objectives

To develop capacities for the efficient management of chemical risks in the AAF region to ensure the:

• Prevention of major risks (accidents and/or pollution) in and outside plants containing chemicals;
• Quick and adequate response in the event of incidents in order to limit the impact on human health and the environment and resume a normal activity (to ensure the preservation of the economy and employment).

Activities

1. Update of the legal framework;
2. Listing and classification of high risk facilities (upper-tier and lower-tier) and provision of training, information and technical support to main stakeholders of industrial disaster risk reduction;
3. Implementation of risk mitigation measures starting with the upper tier facilities;
4. Development of an e-learning platform and undertaking of a feasibility study for the creation of a certifying training of university level to ensure the sustainability of the knowledge acquired.

Achievements

• Developed a full e-learning system;
• Formalized the legal framework update for each partner country to be compliant with the International (GHS) and European Directives (SEVESO and Industrial Emission);
• Reinforced the regional expertise, with a total of 80 French and English speaking experts;
• Participated in the creation of a Regional Partnership established by members of the Regional Expert Team;
• Provided technical and financial support to local activities for national training (done for more than 1300 participants) and work on the emergency plans (detailed analysis by 7 countries, and 4 External Emergency Plans were realised);
• Participated in the creation of a Master’s degree curriculum and training with the University of Douala, Cameroon.