Purpose

To accelerate the market transformation towards energy efficient products in Central America by supporting the development of Standards and Labelling (S&L) programmes at a regional level.

Main Activities

• Organise an inception workshop to bring together representatives from the participating countries and international experts in S&L programme development, focusing on programme development elements, barriers to market transformation in the region, financial and capacity building needs and international best practices and experience in the broader Latin American context;
• Undertake a training course and study tour in Mexico, taking advantage of the Mexican experience by including both a training course by Mexican technical experts for a Central American delegation and a study tour of Mexican laboratories equipped for testing of electric motors, refrigerators, light and air conditioners;
• Support policy implementation by international experts in the form of a reference document outlining international experiences, with an emphasis on Latin America.

Expected Impact

• Creation of a regional network of key stakeholders and technical staff;
• Provision of training by Mexican experts, including demonstration of test procedures and discussion of certification and accreditation issues;
• Preparation of reference materials by international experts outlining the trends of S&L programme practices which may be applicable in Central America, considering the international experience of Mexico and other countries including those in South America;
• Introduction of at least 50 government officers in 7 countries to components of S&L programme development;
• Provision of full knowledge of S&L international protocols to stakeholders;
• Empowerment of national energy authorities regarding the energy efficiency market mechanisms associated with S&L.