SIDE EVENT ON TRAINING OF MEMBERS OF EXPERT REVIEW TEAMS

1. SIDE EVENT ON TRAINING OF MEMBERS OF EXPERT REVIEW TEAMS UNFCCC secretariat Learning Center for Sustainable Development Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Bonn, 5 June 2003

2. Report on the pilot training course on the review of greenhouse gas inventories Clemencia Licona Manzur Inventories Subprogramme, MIS Bonn, 5 June 2003

3. Background • Competence of reviewers = efficiency and effectiveness of the review process. • Large pool of experts needed starting 2003. • To promote participation of skilled experts and following the request from the SBSTA, the UNFCCC secretariat organised a pilot course on the review of GHG inventories.

4. Pilot training course • Organised in collaboration with UNCTAD, supported by the Government of Switzerland; • first stage of reviewers training – second stage participation in a review (depending on succesful course completion) • Training used both e-learning and traditional seminars;

5. Selection of trainees • National experts in inventory preparation (training aimed to inventories review, not preparation) • Experts were mainly from Parties that hadn’t participated in the trial period • Geographical distribution • 29 experts, most from non-Annex I Parties

6. Course content • prepared by consultants with experience in: • Preparation of national GHG inventories; • inventory review activities under the Convention; or • elaboration of the IPCC good practice guidance • comprised six modules: • general aspects of the UNFCCC inventory review process and IPCC guidance (converted to e-learning) • five sector-specific modules (energy, industrial processes, fugitive emissions, agriculture and waste)

7. Course implementation • E-learning general module: • Converted to e-learning by LearnSD-Earth Council • launched in November (CD-ROM for participants without Internet access) • facilitated by instructor • 5-day course, Geneva December, 2002: seminars on sectoral modules and reinforcement of e-learning • Examination at the end: • General module + 1 sectoral module mandatory • Divided in two parts: multiple-choice (and interpretative) questions and review of specific sectors

8. Course results • E-learning “attendance” from 8 to 27 hours (mean 13 hours). • Trainees with highest attendance showed highest marks in the general MC-exam. • Marks from general exam higher than sectoral exams. • 3 marking systems tested for MC-exams. • 71% trainees completed a review report. • Trainees that completed the training invited to 2nd stage of training (participation in review).

9. Examples of marks

10. Advantages of e-learning identified in the pilot course • Allows dissemination of in-depth information around the world at a lower cost • Can be distributed via Internet or CD-ROM • Trainees highlighted that: • they can study at their own pace and accommodate learning to their busy schedules • more material can be covered than with traditional training methods • Material can be consulted by trainees at any time, including during reviews