02/04/2012 CPADD: Centre de Perfectionnement aux Actions Post - - PDF document

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CPADD: Centre de Perfectionnement aux Actions Post Conflictuelles de Déminage et de Dépollution

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2002, CPADD creation under a Benin and France initiative. The goal was to give a demining capacity to the West African armies. 2006, the centre opens courses to NGOs and demining actors throughout West Africa and later to the rest of the continent. 2008, Japan financed 2 million US $ to develop CPADD capability, focussed mainly on: Infrastructure, training equipment, and specialized trainers. 2009, first training in Portuguese. 2012, wish to develop courses in English, in order to open the centre to African English speakers.

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In Africa 20 states and one large region are affected by landmines. The CPADD mission is to increase African Mine Action Capacity by providing: advice, training, assistance and mine risk education, through:

• Humanitarian Demining
• Stockpile Destruction
• Mine awareness

Of particular benefit to:

• ECOWAS standby forces
• African land forces
• International organisations
• National center against anti personal mines
• NGOs and civilian actors.

CPAAD is manned by an international team of 35 people based in

• Benin. Among them are 6 EOD specialized instructors, trained in

France, Belgium and neighboring African countries, 2 French Officers , 1 NCO and an EOD expert. The team is often reinforce with expert trainers from the main demining NGOs such as Handicap International, Clear Ground Demining, DEMETER, and National armies from Belgium, Brazil and France. The trainees, belong to Army forces (including African stand-by forces), NGOs and private companies, from all over Africa (28 countries –all the French and Portuguese speaking countries in Africa). Since 2002, 981 qualifications have been gained.

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The training activities are conducted in an environment tailored to the needs of the trainees with capacity for two courses of 24 trainees running concurrently. Infrastructure includes:

• 2 classrooms,
• 1 Computer assisted learning room,
• 1 room dedicated to ISMA software training,
• 1 room for Ammunition and Mine displays,
• 2 Explosives ranges,
• 48 individuals bedrooms equipped with internet.

All the equipment used during training sessions are in accordance with international standards. The center is mainly financed by the Benin and French

• governments. Trainees coming from NGOs and the private

sector can be financed by other partners. 2012 will be the year dedicated to the development of courses in English for the benefit of:

• ECOWAS stand-by forces
• English speaking African countries
• NGOs

As CPADD is a French speaking school, a four phase plan will be implemented in order to maintain the high standard of courses provided:

• 1st Phase: from the beginning 2012 to June 12: translation from French to English
• f the different courses in accordance with CPADD policy and IMAS.
• 2nd Phase: conduct the first course in English from the 27th August to the 5th

October 2012

• 3rd Phase: consolidate relationships with partners that facilitate the delivery of

courses in English.

• 4th Phase: publicise to African English speakers (including NGOs) this new

capability

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Since 2002, CPADD has trained 981 French and Portuguese speaking Humanitarian demining actors in Africa. The new challenge, to develop courses in English, must be done with the participation of ‘native English’ speaking organisations. Doing this in close coordination with governmental and non-governmental partners will maintain the high level of training currently provided.