VZCZCXRO9337
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1488 2801348
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061348Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2024
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
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