The GICHD Arab Regional Cooperation Programme (ARCP) in partnership with the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR) in Jordan and the Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC) is organising the ARCP 7th annual conference in Amman from 9 to 10 December 2019. The annual conference will be held in both English and Arabic and it is funded and supported by Germany, Finland and Switzerland.
The ARCP 7th Annual Conference brings together National Mine Action Directors and relevant personnel. The aim of the conference will be to raise awareness on and discuss the newly issued International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) with a focus on IMAS Risk Management, IMAS Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) and IMAS on Building Clearance. These standards, and associated technical terminology, are being translated into Arabic in time for the conference. The participants to the conference will be provided with an update on the new content and guidance, conduct a review of key terms and definitions to ensure that they are well formulated in the Arabic language, and explore the possibilities for establishing National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) on relevant topics.
The participants will then discuss and share experiences based on IMAS/NMAS. During the conference, the participants will exchange good practices, discuss ways on how best to utilize IMAS and NMAS in their countries.
The conference will take place over two days. It will comprise of a series of presentations by the GICHD and some country representatives in addition to working-group discussions between participants from National Mine Action Authorities (NMAA).
The relevant IMAS will be shared with the NMAAs prior to the conference. GICHD will present the recently published and translated IMAS, Technical Notes (TNs) and Test and Evaluation Protocol (T&EP) and shed light on their importance especially with new contamination in urban environments. Following that there will be working-group discussions and presentations to discuss, comment and give recommendations on the IMAS. One or two programmes will also have the opportunity to present their NMAS. Last there will be a session on the recent assessment done by GICHD and LMAC on the ARCP and priorities for the NMAAs in the region.
This conference is intended for a maximum of two participants from each national mine action authority (the Director from the National Mine Action Authority or a person who is in charge of developing the standards from the authority itself and/or a person with technical operational expertise if needed).
The GICHD will provide necessary administration and logistic support for all the participants.
The GICHD offers sponsorships for a maximum of 2 relevant representatives from each national mine action authority that do not have the financial means to cover their participation and if the need is justified. The GICHD will provide support in the form of air tickets and accommodation during the Conference. The participants are expected to arrive on 8 December and depart on 10 or at the latest 11 December 2019.
For additional questions or assistance, please contact the GICHD ARCP team at r.elias(at)gichd.org , h.alshakeri(at)gichd.org or the LMAC ARCP team at arcp(at)lebmac.org
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