NMAS Development Course - Lebanon

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) has scheduled a five-day NMAS training programme on National Mine Action Standard (NMAS) development in Beirut, Lebanon.  The training is designed to provide participants from the Lebanon Mine Action Centre, the mine action organisations and other stakeholders with a platform to learn and understand the concepts and processes involved in the development/revision of NMAS. The participants will discuss how key paragraphs are formulated in alignment to IMAS, normative frameworks and national laws. Furthermore, the participants will engage in a practical review of at least one Lebanon NMAS chapter. 

Aim

To equip participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively lead or contribute to the development and review of the Lebanon National Mine Action Standards (NMAS), ensuring alignment with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), national regulations, and specific contextual requirements. 

Specific Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the Relationship: Explain the structural links between IMAS, NMAS, and SOPs to ensure a consistent regulatory framework.
• Apply Drafting Techniques: Use practical guidance to draft, review, and update NMAS chapters in accordance with international best practices.
• Solve Contextual Challenges: Identify Lebanon-specific challenges in standards maintenance and develop tailored solutions to address them.
• Enhance Sector Capacity: Strengthen the ability of the Lebanon Mine Action sector to independently maintain and update their national standards.
• Execute a Standards Review: Initiate the formal review and update of at least one specific NMAS chapter to ensure full technical alignment with IMAS.

What you will learn?

Participants will learn essential concepts and skills key to leading or effectively contributing to the Lebanon National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) development and review processes. The lessons will include:

• International Treaties: Exploring treaties in mine action and their critical role in NMAS development.
• Standards Hierarchy: Understanding the relationships between IMAS, NMAS, and SOPs.
• Organizational Roles: Identifying the roles and responsibilities of various mine action entities.
• Operational Fundamentals: An introduction to Land Release, 'All Reasonable Effort,' and Quality Management, including how these are outlined in national standards.
• NMAS Methodology: Studying prioritization and the specific methodology for developing NMAS.
• Requirements Alignment: Learning to compile national requirements by balancing IMAS minimum requirements with the Lebanon national context.
• Technical Writing: Mastering the formats, content, and technical writing styles required for NMAS.

Who should attend?

Participants shall be drawn from the mine action stakeholders in Lebanon including LMAC, UN agencies, and mine action organisations personnel responsible for or engaged in the development of NMAS and SOPs who are conversant with the IMAS. 

Ideally the participants should be middle and senior managers in Operations, QM, EORE and IM with considerable mine action experience and IMAS knowledge. Women are encouraged to apply. 

Donors

The Netherlands