KAIPTC pilots a Trainer Of Trainers Course in Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa

In collaboration with the Austrian Ministry of Defense and Sports, the Austrian Development Agency, and the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution, KAIPTC has rolled out a pilot Training of Trainers Course in Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa.

Welcoming the participants, Air Vice Marshal Griffiths Evans, Commandant of KAIPTC, observed that the absence of humanitarian assistance has resulted in increased poverty within the sub-region, “humanitarian assistance are mostly neglected after the end of conflicts…approximately 130 million people live in extreme poverty in this region. This is significantly due to after conflict effect”.

AVM Evans further stated that KAIPTC, through the adoption of the ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy 2012-2017 Action Plan, has established a strong partnership with the ECOWAS Commission, leading to exemplary capacity building such as the HAWA course.

Addressing the gathering of 16 participants, BG Prof. Dr. Alois Hirschmugl, a representative from the Austrian Ministry of Defense and Sports, said the expected outcome of the training was to strengthen institutional capacities of civilian, military and police agencies to allow for more effective humanitarian assistance delivery in West Africa.

Prof. Alois stated the target participants of the course; “the new course is a course for trainers. Trainers who happen to work for very different kinds of institutions – police, military, civilian, with local, national and international focus…it is also a course for humanitarians.  Humanitarians who want to play a part in bringing relief and assistance to those who are suffering as a result of crises and emergencies”.

He was optimistic that the pool of actors summoned, who are involved in different aspects of humanitarian response in West Africa, will help achieve the aim of fostering mutual understanding  of the different role each can play in humanitarian response. He was hopeful that by working together and coordinating actions, all groups can contribute to improving the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in the sub-region.

The week long training course will end on 23 June, 2017.