Management Training for Middle Managers of the Mine Action Programmes in the South Caucasus
International Trust Fund (ITF) identified together with Georgian national authorities and other international actors the need to train the responsible national staff in management of mine action programmes. This need was also expressed by other mine action centres in the region, namely in Armenia and Azerbaijan. For this purpose ITF with the support of donor community – Czech Republic, Hungary and Republic of Slovenia - has organized a regional Middle Management Training Course in period 9 – 27 November 2009 at the hotel Old Metekhi. The training has been hosted by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and will be implemented by renowned UK-based Cranfield University in partnership with Georgian Technical University.
The aim of the Middle Management Training course is to enhance the skills and capabilities of 27 mid level managers of mine action programmes within the South Caucasus region (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) by educating, training and challenging them, in order to meet the needs and expectations of stakeholders. The majority of the trainees (80%) will come from the relevant institutions/organizations in Georgia, namely Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ERWCC/iMMAP, ICBL-Georgian Committee, IOM Georgia, National Red Cross Society, NATO NAMSA (Georgia) and Norwegian People’s Aid.
The management training has been carried out within the ITF comprehensive training and assistance programme to Georgia, which aims to develop the national humanitarian Mine Action Coordination and Management capacity. The ITF training programme was endorsed and supported by following donors: Czech Republic, Hungary and Republic of Slovenia. Additionally, Azerbaijan Government participated in the programme with in-kind contribution through Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA). ITF donor community has been actively and promptly contributing to the broader international efforts in alleviating the ravages of conflicts in Georgia occasioned by the use of landmines and unexploded ordnance.
ITF signed 2-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Defence of Georgia on 23 October 2008 covering the national capacity building as well as mine victim assistance activities. Potentially, the cooperation can be extended to other services in the field of Mine Action, if required by the Georgian authorities.