49th Partnership for Peace (PfP) course: IMAS and Compliance
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.
Dress
Civilian/casual dress throughout the program.
Topics
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00Objective
The training course “IMAS and Compliance” is afive-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:
Enhance the understanding on how to develop IMAS compliant NMAS
Enhance the understanding of the most recent developments within the IMAS framework and potential implications for NMAS
Enhance the understanding of how Risk Management (RM), Information Management (IM) and Quality Management (QM) support an evidence-based decision-making process.
00Program and Method
The course includes presentations, discussions, group work and a short field exercise. 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”.
00Participants
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 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 IED operations in humanitarian settings.
Language requirements
Participants should also be able to communicate and present on their national standards in English.
00Cost
The Swiss Government will cover participant expenses for food and accommodation while in Spiez (28 April, date of arrival, to 4 May, latest date of departure).
Travel costs from country of origin to Zurich, Switzerland has to be covered by each respective organisation. It is recommended that all participants schedule an arrival in Zurich, Switzerland no later than Sunday, 28 April 2019. A limited number of sponsorships for travel expenses is available from the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS). Sponsorship is not guaranteed and requests will be considered on a case by case basis. It is imperative that applicants wishing subsidies for transportation get in touch with the GICHD as soon as possible (pfp@gichd.org), before making any arrangements, and not later than the application deadline.
Return train travel between Zurich Airport and Spiez will be reimbursed (only second class tickets).
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.
More Information
Course duration
Location
Schachenstrasse 43
3700 Spiez
Switzerland
Language of instruction
Contact
PfP(at)gichd.org