The GICHD Arab Regional Cooperation Programme in partnership with the Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) is organising the Arab Regional Cooperation Programme (ARCP) 6th annual conference in Beirut from 17 to 19 October 2017. The annual conference will be held in both English and Arabic and it is funded and supported by the Arab fund for Economic and Social Development, Finland, Switzerland and the European Union.
The ARCP brings together National Mine Action Directors, other relevant stakeholders and mine action donors. The aim of the conference will be to discuss the draft ARCP strategy between the participating programmes at the regional level. The ARCP strategy will be shared prior to the conference. The programmes will discuss the draft and agree on a final version and ways for its implementation. The strategy document will serve the ARCP goal in promoting and fostering regional cooperation on mine action within the Middle East and North Africa Region.
During the conference, the participants will exchange best practices, discuss ways on how the strategy can be implemented in the working and challenging security context. They will have the opportunity to interact through small group working sessions.
The conference will take place over three days. It will comprise of limited lectures and presentations by the GICHD and LMAC facilitators and some country representatives, as well as group work between participants.
A draft strategy will be circulated amongst participants prior to the conference. The discussions will be contingent on the programmes’ engagement and this will be key in its finalisation. One or two programmes will also have the opportunity to present their national mine action strategies. There will be also sessions on the operational plan 2018 following the assessment.
The conference will serve as regional platform for national directors of Mine Action programmes in the MENA region to exchange experiences and lessons learned. The expected outcome is to assess the needs of the programmes and to identify the priorities for the years ahead through the ARCP strategy which will serve as a road map. In addition, the operational plan of 2018 will be developed.
This conference is intended for 1 applicant from each national mine action authority (the Director from the National Mine Action Authority or a person who will be in charge to develop a strategy from the authority itself).
The GICHD and LMAC will provide necessary administration and logistic support for all the participants.
The GICHD offers sponsorship for a maximum of 1 representative 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 LMAC will provide support in visas for all participants. The participants are expected to arrive on 16th October and depart on 20th October.
GICHD.org / AP Mine Ban Convention / Mine Action Standards / IMSMA wiki / Collaborative ORDnance data repository / Convention on Cluster Munitions / Gender and Mine Action Programme