BELGIAN TECHNICAL COOPERATON

RAMALLAH - The Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) has concluded a training course on Crises Management in the Grand Park Hotel & Resorts in the city of Ramallah. The course targeted Chairmen, Members of the Municipalities and Local Councils in addition to Managers and Heads of Department of the Ministry and Local Government Directorates in Jerusalem, Tulkarem and Salfeet Governorates. In particular those who are involved in the preparation of plans and decision-making were invited to attend. The training course was organized in the framework of the Local Infrastructure and Capacity Building Project (LICP), lasted for three days and consisted of 18 hours of training for 20 participants.

The implementation of this training course came based on the recommendations of the needs� identification workshops that took place in cooperation with the Joint Services Councils. The International Expert, Fathi Yassin, who was contracted by the General Consulting and Training Company, implemented the training course that addressed the basics on how to deal with potential crises and the mechanisms of planning and developing strategies to cope with such crises. The workshop also covered the use of early warning systems in order to avoid the occurrence of emergencies. Throughout the course due attention was given to the particular reality in which the Municipalities and Local Government Units (LGUs) in Palestine have to operate.

During the course the participants showed their interest in the matter and addressed e.g. aspects of crises situations they had previously faced or emergencies they fear that might occur in the future. By entering into an open discussion with the participants, the Trainer was able to assist the participants in the preparation of proposals and the elaboration of mechanisms that are to be put into effect in case of the occurrence of a crisis.

At the end of the training course, Mrs. Majeda Nabhan, Programme Director of the Belgian Project, Mr. Mohammad Al-Taweel, the Financial Planner of the project, and the Trainer, Mr. Fathi Yassin handed over certificates to the participants who, for their part, expressed their satisfaction over the possibility they were given to attend a training course taught by an Arab Expert in the field of Management. Furthermore, they also expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Belgian Government for its continued efforts in building and enhancing the capacity of Local Government officials in Palestine (by putting external expertise to their good use).

For more information on the Capacity Building component of the Local Infrastructure and Capacity Building Project (LICP), please refer to the following page: LICP Capacity Building in a nutshell.