Within the framework of the PfP Partnership Work Programme, the Swiss Government, through the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), has the honour to invite qualified representatives from the National Mine Action Authorities (NMAAs) to the above-mentioned course.
Gender and Diversity
Both the GICHD and the DDPS promote good gender and diversity practices to avoid all forms of discrimination. Applications are encouraged from women, minorities, persons with disabilities and persons of all sexual orientation or gender identity.
Visa
Participants requiring a visa should apply at the Swiss Embassy in their country. Invitation letters can be provided by the GICHD.
Language
The course will be given in English, no translation will be provided.
Dress
Civilian/casual dress throughout the program.
The training course “IMAS and Compliance” is a five-day intensive course, which aims to both; ensure that the most up to date developments in IMAS are understood across the sector, and to further strengthen the relationships between key overarching issues of risk, method,quality management and information management. These are key areas to improve safety, efficiency and quality, thereby ensuring confidence in mine action outputs.
The objectives of the course are to:
The course includes presentations, discussions and group work/exercises. These sessions will cover effective and efficient implementation of national QMS to complement risk management (including threat analysis and threat assessment), information management and land release methods and the definition of concepts such as “All Reasonable Effort” and “Compliance”.
The workshop is aimed at mine action officials and practitioners from affected countries, officials from mine action agencies in donor countries, and other representatives as specifically selected by the Swiss Ministry of Defence and the GICHD. This course is also designed for National Officers and military personnel responsible for or engaged in the development of the National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), who are conversant with IMAS. It is also relevant for military personnel, responsible for pre-deployment trainings of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), experts or engineer units in the framework of peace support operations.
The aspired outcome is enabling participants to apply the acquired knowledge to improve and upgrade their national standards. The course will include introductory sessions on new guidance being developed to assist with Improvised Explosive Devices(IED) operations in humanitarian settings.
Language requirements
Participants must be able to communicate and present in English.
IMPORTANT:Letter of endorsement
A letter of endorsement is required from the superior to complete the registration.
The Swiss Government will cover participant expenses for food and accommodation while in Spiez (3 May 2020, earliest date of arrival to 9 May 2020, latest date of departure).
Transportation and Sponsorship
Train tickets Zurich Airport – Spiez – Zurich Airport will be reimbursed to the participants (only second-class tickets).
Flights to and from Switzerland have to be covered by the participant’s organisation.
There are up to three subsidies for transportation to and from Switzerland available. It is imperative that applicants wishing sponsorship for flights indicate that in the respective section while registering for this workshop.
Insurance
The Swiss Armed Forces do not cover health care expenses. All participants are themselves responsible for adequate insurance (health, accident, and liability) or need a governmental guarantee to cover any health care expenses in Switzerland.
GICHD.org / AP Mine Ban Convention / Mine Action Standards / IMSMA wiki / Collaborative ORDnance data repository / Convention on Cluster Munitions / Gender and Mine Action Programme