Regional Director, Eastern & Southern African Office, ICAO Establishing and Sustaining an RSOO: Enablers, Obstacles and lessons learnt Meshesha Belayneh Regional Director, Eastern & Southern African Office, ICAO 27 October 2011

Outline ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) Enabling States to establish an effective safety oversight system through Regional Organizations Experiences and lessons learnt 2009-2011 Way forward

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Origin ICAO and Contracting States have struggled to meet the challenges related to civil aviation safety oversight in the African Region Acute economic and political issues influencing the capacities of States civil aviation administrations in the AFI Region pose a complex challenge that truly demanded a new approach ICAO’s increased leadership in civil aviation safety in the AFI Region was required in order to ensure a sustained improvement in the level of flight safety in the AFI Region, The creation of a comprehensive regional implementation plan, endorsed by all stakeholders would help to improve the situation

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Objectives Strengthen civil aviation authorities in Africa with respect to their safety oversight capabilities. ensure impartial and unimpeachable investigation and reporting of serious accidents and incidents; enhance capacity of regional and sub-regional safety oversight systems; ensure expeditious implementation of aviation safety management systems for airports, air navigation service providers and airlines.

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Implementation Focus Area 1 Focus Area 2 Focus Area 3 Enabling States to establish and maintain a sustainable safety oversight system (infra-structure and capacity building); Assisting States to resolve identified deficiencies within a reasonable time; and Enhancing aviation safety culture of African aviation service providers.

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Implementation Focus area 1 Global Aviation Safety Roadmap (GASR) Workshops; State specific gap analysis; Determination of priority projects; Support the establishment of regional systems Support in the implementation of framework agreements; Seminars, workshops and training courses on the organization and management of safety oversight systems. 6

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Implementation Focus area 2 Seminars, workshops and training courses in safety oversight-related subjects; Standardization and harmonization of aviation training in Africa; Regional Office Safety Teams (ROST): composed of ICAO Regional Officers; provide State-specific support to enhance ability to resolve identified deficiencies and enhance safety oversight capabilities; coordinate, facilitate and conduct safety-related seminars, workshops and provide training as may be required. 7

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Implementation Focus area 3 Coordination with industry and service providers participation in GASR workshops, and safety management system (SMS) training courses; High-level management personnel awareness and introductory seminars on State safety programme (SSP) and (SMS); Building human capabilities – training of SSP/SMS Instructors. 8

ICAO’s Regional Comprehensive Plan for aviation safety in Africa (AFI Plan) - Implementation Conduct specific gap analysis, using the Global Aviation Safety Plan methodology Focus Area 1 Identify remedial action to enhance safety oversight capabilities and implementation of safety best practices Communicate intention/findings with concerned States and regional groupings Enabling States to establish and maintain a sustainable safety oversight system (infra-structure and capacity building); Inform all stakeholders and solicit support as required to implement the project (ICAO Assembly Resolution A36/1)

Enabling States to establish an effective safety oversight system through Regional Organizations Specific State and Regional Gap-Analysis Determination of Regional Priorities Determination of Support from ICAO Council Development of Support Projects Implementation and Follow Up

Framework for a regional safety oversight system Enabling States to establish an effective safety oversight system through Regional Organizations – Implementation Ensure that the regionalization adds value to the national aviation system and national organizations Assess scope and level of air transport activities and oversight functions Framework for a regional safety oversight system Identify and agree on those activities that can be regionalized Sustainability Ensure that the regional safety oversight system is designed to be sustainable and self- sufficient Integration Integrate the type of activities, legal and financing arrangements

BAG CEMAC EAC SADC SEVEN PARTNER STATES UEMOA Enabling States to establish an effective safety oversight system through Regional Organizations – Where are we ? BAG CEMAC EAC SADC SEVEN PARTNER STATES UEMOA

Experiences and lessons learnt 2009-2011 – Enablers Gap Analysis Identification of Common Issues and Agreement on Regional Priorities States' commitment to cooperate to resolve safety deficiencies Existing Regional Groupings One Point of Contact (Secretariat/Commission) Regional primary legal instruments

Experiences and lessons learnt 2009-2011 – Obstacles Conflicting Communications Protocols ICAO works directly with the States as Contracting States while the Regional Secretariat/Commission is designed to represent the States collectively Legal instruments Requirements for additional legal instruments to give effect to the establishment of Regional Safety Oversight Organization Different levels of approvals Directors General, Ministers, Heads of States resulting in delay in the approval of the required documents Human Resources Delayed Recruitment of personnel Funding Agreement on the sources and modalities of funding Release of funds

Experiences and lessons learnt 2009-2011 – Lessons Learnt Human Resources Implementation Strategies Commitment and support Time constraints Minimum one year to finalize the necessary processes Required at all levels of the States Need for qualitative and quantitative development Need for different specific strategies adapted to the regional groupings

Establishing and Sustaining an RSOO: Enablers, Obstacles and lessons learnt Thank You