96th Partnership for Peace Course on International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and Conformance
Within the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) work programme, the Swiss Government, through the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), has the honour to invite qualified mine action officials and practitioners to the above-mentioned course.
The training course “IMAS and Conformance” is a blended five-day intensive in-person course, with a focus on understanding the relationship between IMAS and National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) and the key overarching principles of all reasonable effort, risk management, liability, quality management and information management. These are key areas to improve safety, efficiency and quality, thereby ensuring confidence in mine action outputs.
The course is aimed at mine action officials and practitioners from mine affected countries, officials from mine action agencies in donor countries, and other representatives as specifically selected by the Swiss Ministry of Defence and the Geneva Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) who are involved in the development of NMAS.
NOTE: The training course is subject to the final budget availability. Everyone interested in the training course is welcomed to apply by the deadline of 30th of June 2023. However, all applicants are kindly requested not to proceed with any logistical arrangements before the final confirmation is received from the GICHD.
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00Objetivo
The objective of this course is to provide mine action officials and practitioners with an understanding of the relationship between IMAS and NMAS, enabling participants to undertake or review the process of developing NMAS which draws on the framework of the IMAS.
Learning objectives:
After the course, the learners are able to:
- outline the role of IMAS and their key principles and concepts affecting the development of NMAS;
- source information required to identify the scope of NMAS;
- source information required to support the development of NMAS; and
- draft NMAS guided by IMAS.
00Programa y métodos
This IMAS course will familiarise the participants with the role of IMAS, principles and concepts, know the importance of identifying information requirements prior to developing NMAS; gain awareness of the need to communicate and coordinate with strategic and operational personnel within one’s respective organisations, as well developing the ability to compile NMAS utilising the IMAS framework. In addition, understand the processes and concepts of land release, all reasonable effort, information management, and quality management in relation to mine action programs and development of standards.
Furthermore, participants will learn how to differentiate between IMAS, NMAS and Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs), identify key statements within IMAS relating to “shall”, “should” or “may” inclusion into NMAS.
This training course will be held at the ABZ training centre in Spiez, Switzerland.
Pre- Course Requirements (Learning Modules)
Participants will be required to pass courses of online eLearning as a prerequisite to in-person course attendance. Selected candidates will be informed by email with a link and instructions for the completion of the pre-course online work. This will be sent prior to the in-person course with sufficient time to enable completion. Pre-course learning will include the following GICHD eLearning modules:
- E-Learning: Introduction to Gender and Diversity in Mine Action.
- E-Learning: Understanding the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)
Selected Participants who fail to complete the pre-course material successfully may be removed from the in-person course.
00Participantes
The registration time frame (to a maximum of 30 participants) will be completed by the 30 June 2023 and will identify suitably qualified mine action officials and practitioners from mine 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 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.
Participants will be expected to present on their national standards and are requested to bring electronic copies with them where feasible.
Prerequisite Attendance Requirements
Participants wishing to partake in the course will need to meet the following prerequisite course requirements:
- Successfully complete all GICHD pre-course learning modules.
- Participants should have technical and project management skills.
- Participants should be able to communicate and present in English.
- Hold a post / position with a focus on development of NMAS.
- Taking up a position / post focused on development of NMAS.
- Undertake work linked to IMAS.
- NATO/PfP, MD, ICI and Contact States specifically selected by the Swiss Ministry of Defence and the GICHD.
- National Officers and military personnel responsible for or engaged in the development of NMAS, who are conversant with IMAS.
- Military personnel, responsible for pre-deployment trainings of EOD experts or engineer units in the framework of peace support operations.
- Participants must have the following standards of proficiency in English (as described in STANAG 6001): 3221
- Listening (good / 3), Speaking (fair / 2), Reading (fair / 2) , Writing (elementary/ 1)
- Language requirements are compulsory and must be confirmed by applicants’ superiors - No interpreters are provided for this course.
The GICHD is committed to diverse and open participation in our training and courses. Women and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Applicants are asked to fill out the online application form and upload an updated CV and an endorsement letter from their organisation, signed by their supervisor. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2023 close of business. For any questions, please contact pfp(at)gichd.org
Passport
Please make sure the validity of your passport complies with the requirements for entry into Switzerland. Please attach a scanned coloured copy of the first pages of your passport in the online application form.
Visa
Do you need a letter of support for your visa application? Please indicated yes or no in the online application form.
Candidates who are not selected or meet the prerequisite criteria are encouraged to consult our calendar of events to apply for subsequent training courses through the GICHD training website.
00Precio
The Swiss Government will cover participant expenses for food and accommodation while in Spiez (29 October 2023, earliest date of arrival to 4 November 2023, latest date of departure)). Train tickets Zurich Airport – Spiez – Zurich Airport will be reimbursed to the participants (only second-class tickets). Flights to and from Switzerland must be covered by the participant’s organisation.
It is imperative that applicants wishing subsidies for transportation send a letter signed by their supervisor, stating that they are the NMAS person in charge of the programme and that they do need sponsorship for travel expenses, to pfp(at)gichd.org as soon as possible, before making any arrangements, and not later than the application deadline on 30 June 2023.
NOTE: The Swiss Armed Forces and the GICHD do not cover health care expenses, or any expenses related to Covid-19, including quarantine/isolation. All participants are themselves responsible for obtaining adequate insurance (health, accident, and liability) or will need a governmental guarantee to cover any health care expenses incurred in Switzerland. Participants are advised to pay special attention to additional costs that might arise because of Covid-19 (such as hotel costs for quarantine, flight change etc.), as they are not necessarily covered by insurance policies.
00Requisitos de equipación
The GICHD will provide equipment required for the course. It is recommended that students bring their own laptop. The students who do not have a laptop available are requested to notify the GICHD via pfp(at)gichd.org in advance of the course.
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Switzerland