Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol

The Multilateral Fund is dedicated to reversing the deterioration of the Earth's ozone layer. The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol provides funds to help developing countries comply with their obligations under the Protocol to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) at an agreed schedule.  It is managed by an Executive Committee with equal membership from developed and developing countries.  Since 1991, the Fund has approved activities including industrial conversion, technical assistance, training and capacity building worth over US $2 billion. The main objective of the Multilateral Fund is to assist developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ozone depleting substances (ODS) is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol. Currently, 147 of the 196 Parties to the Montreal Protocol meet these criteria. They are referred to as Article 5 countries.  The total budget for the 2009-2011 triennium is US $490 million: US $73.9 million of that budget is from the 2006-2008 triennium and US $16.1 million will be provided from interest accruing to the Multilateral Fund during the 2009-2011 triennium.  Financial and technical assistance is provided in the form of grants or concessional loans and is delivered primarily through four 'implementing agencies':  United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) World Bank    Till date the fund has approved the expenditure of over US $2.5 billion to support over 6,200 projects and activities in 148 countries to be implemented through the four implementing agencies and by bilateral agencies.  To facilitate the phase-out by Article 5 countries, the Executive Committee has approved 143 country programmes, and has funded the establishment and the operating costs of ozone offices in 143 Article 5 countries.