Accra, March 8, 2018: Twenty-one participants from seven countries across Africa enrolled for the 2018 edition of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Foundation course which was held from 5th – 16th February. The course was officially been opened by the Deputy German Ambassador to Ghana H. E. Hans-Helge Sander at the Multi-Purpose Training Facility (MPTF) at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).
Also in attendance was the Commandant of the Centre, AVM Griffiths Evans, the Programmes Manager in charge of GIZ support to KAIPTC, Miss Nana Odoi and the Director of Training of KAIPTC, Colonel Robert Affram.
This year’s group of participants comprised staff from the United Nations Missions in Sudan, staff from the United Nations, Ministries, and Civil Society Organizations, International/Local NGOs as well as Military Personnel. The diversity of participants ties in with the Centre’s strategic objective of developing continental capacity in Peace Operations.
This year’s training course focused on the ended DDR programme in Ivory Coast and the upcoming DDR planned process in Mali; it also featured a facilitator from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO), Mr. Mario Carvalho.
With funding from the German Government through GIZ, the DDR course has been supported financially and technically since 2007.
The aim of the DDR Programme is to support voluntary disarmament and discharge of combatants from armed groups and assist them with sustainable reintegration into society. This DDR Foundation course covers modules on concepts, policies, strategies, operations, as well as associated cross-cutting issues such as gender, small arms control, human rights, and specific needs groups.
Delivering his opening remarks, AVM Griffiths Evans stated that DDR programmes are being implemented in very dynamic contexts, innovative and context-specific approaches that are needed to tackle the challenges.
“Therefore, this training course does not only conform to UN Integrated DDR Training Standards but also reflects recent developments in the field of DDR to provide you with a high international training standard in this area”, he added.
In his concluding remarks, he hinted that the Centre is a member of the Integrated DDR Training Group and has graduated a total of 610 participants; some of whom are working in UN/AU missions and National DDR Commissions in Africa and at the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) in New York.
E. Hans-Helge Sander encouraged participants to learn from, and share their experiences and expertise with the facilitators and their colleagues in order to guarantee an inspiring learning experience.
ENGLISH (Texte en français ci-desssous)
KAIPTC COVID-19 Special Guidelines for International Course Facilitators and Course Participants travelling to KAIPTC:
1. Kindly read the Ghana Government, the KAIPTC COVID-19 General and Special Guidelines for International travellers carefully and be advised accordingly (click here to read);
2. It is mandatory to upgrade your health insurance to cover expenses for possible COVID-19 quarantine and treatment.
3. The cost of the three (3) COVID-19 PCR tests up to a total of USD 450 – will be reimbursed for participants of sponsored KAIPTC courses. The tests comprise one before embarkation to Ghana, one at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and the final test prior to departing Ghana. All receipts are required for reimbursements to be made.
4. Course participants accommodated at KAIPTC are required to stay on-site during the entire duration of the course.
5. Neither the Ghana Government, the Ghana Ministry of Defence, KAIPTC, the Course Sponsor nor the organising country, can be held responsible in any way for further costs arising out of a positive COVID-19 test or a COVID-19 infection.
FRANÇAIS
KAIPTC COVID-19 Directives spéciales pour les animateurs et les participants aux cours internationaux qui se rendent au KAIPTC :
1. Veuillez lire attentivement les directives générales et spéciales du KAIPTC COVID-19 à l’intention des voyageurs internationaux et en tenir compte (cliquez ici pour lire – uniquement en anglais) ;
2. Il est obligatoire d’améliorer votre assurance santé pour couvrir les frais d’une éventuelle quarantaine et d’un traitement COVID-19.
3. Le coût des trois (3) tests PCR COVID-19 – jusqu’à un total de 450 USD – sera remboursé aux participants des cours parrainés par le KAIPTC. Les tests comprennent un test avant l’embarquement pour le Ghana, un test à l’aéroport international de Kotoka (KIA) et le test final avant le départ du Ghana. Tous les reçus sont nécessaires pour effectuer les remboursements.
4. Les participants aux cours hébergés au KAIPTC sont tenus de rester sur place pendant toute la durée du cours.
5. Ni le gouvernement du Ghana, ni le ministère de la défense du Ghana, ni le KAIPTC, ni le sponsor du cours, ni le pays organisateur ne peuvent être tenus responsables de quelque manière que ce soit des coûts supplémentaires résultant d’un test COVID-19 positif ou d’une infection COVID-19.
KAIPTC receives ear-marked and non-earmarked funding from its development partners. In some instances, it receives technical support on specific projects and programmes. The institution welcomes additional financial and technical support from development partners. Please contact the following persons/departments:
The Director,
Policy, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation.
Email: ooc.ppmed@kaiptc.org
Le KAIPTC reçoit des fonds affectés et non affectés de ses partenaires de développement. Tout soutien financier supplémentaire des partenaires de développement est la bienvenue. Veuillez contacter les personnes ou départements suivants:
La Directrice,
Département des politiques, de la planification, du suivi et de l’évaluation
Email: ooc.ppmed@kaiptc.org