UN ANNOUNCES TWO DEMINING CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001488 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, PM/WRA PVILLANO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: UN ANNOUNCES TWO DEMINING CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS REF: KHARTOUM 1440 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The United Nations Mine Action Office (UNMAO) announced plans to roll out two multi-year training programs to build the capacity of local demining organizations that will assume overall program responsibility from UNMAO mid-2011. The Planning and Monitoring Project will emphasize strategic planning and oversight of all aspects of demining in Sudan. The Quality Management Project will "train-the-trainers" on accreditation, procurement, and IT management. UNMAO plans to seek funding for these programs at the next donor conference in November 2008 in Geneva. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On Sept 28 Poloff met with Lou Luft, UNMAO Chief of Operations and Planning and Christina Greene, UNMAO Program Officer, to discuss future demining training that will build the capacity of Sudanese demining organizations. Luft announced two training programs to be rolled out in 2009-2011 if funding is obtained. The goal of each project is to strengthen national mine action institutions and enable local contributors to better plan and monitor all aspects of mine action in Sudan, including accreditation and licensing. The timing of the training programs is flexible due to uncertainty surrounding elections and CPA implementation. Program 1 - The Planning and Monitoring Project -------------- -- ¶3. (SBU) The Planning and Monitoring project will train ten individuals from the Northern Mine Action Center (NMAC) and ten individuals from the South Sudan Demining Commission (SSDC) through one-on-one mentoring and on-the-job training over a three-year period. ¶4. (SBU) Phase 1 will commence in 2009 and consist of a four-to-six week mentoring program sponsored by the National Authority. Trainees will shadow officials, learn how to create and oversee annual work plans, and hone prioritization skills. Emphasis will be on risk assessment and mitigation. The training will be supplemented by three workshops to be held in Sudan using UNMAO facilities to emphasize planning, equipment procurement, technical support, and advocacy. Phase 2 will start in 2010 and will focus on how to run programs and operations with particular attention to Mine Risk Education (MRE) and Victims' Assistance. Phase 3, in 2011, will comprise specialized instruction on long-term planning and advocacy for mine action both nationally and internationally. ¶5. (SBU) The mentorship partners for this training are NMAC, SSDC, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Sudan Commission to Ban Land Mines (SCBL). Program costs for this program start at 1,600,000 USD for Phase 1 and drop to 1,300,000 USD for each subsequent year. Funding has yet to be identified, but will be requested at the next meeting of states signatory to the Ottawa Convention on landmine eradication in Geneva in November 2008. Program 2 - The Quality Assurance Program -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The three-year Quality Assurance (QA) program will train on management and coordination of the National Technical Standards (NTSGs) and accreditation systems, and the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA). ¶7. (SBU) Twenty-four course participants from NMAC and SSCD will participate in mentorship programs and on-the-job-training with the national authority. Four adjunct workshops will also be held at UNMAO, Sudan, and will stress analysis of data, technical assistance and support. Phase 2 would include field work with additional workshops on equipment procurement and "train-the-trainer" courses. Phase 3 will prepare participants to assume custodianship of ISMA. UNMAO would continue to provide monitoring and technical assistance. Costs for this course are estimated at 1,600,000(USD) for Phase 1, 1,300.000(USD) for Phase 2 and 1,200,000(USD) for Phase 3. Funding has not been identified for this training either. Comment: -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Demining in Sudan will continue into the foreseeable future; surveys have not been completed along the Eritrean and Chadian borders, or in Darfur. Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) is widespread in Darfur with more accumulating given ongoing conflict there, according to UNMA's Christina Greene. UNMAO anticipates an eventual drop in international donor funding so local program management is essential to the sustainability of demining efforts. The training programs outlined here should ensure some continuity as Sudanese authorities assume greater responsibility for these programs. ASQUINO