Taking place this week in Nairobi, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) workshop at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) will enhance the capacity of regional National Mine Action Authorities (NMAA) and Mine Action Centres (MAC) to respond effectively to Improved Explosive Device (IED) threats.

Chief Guest Ambassador Tobias Privitelli, Director of GICHD, highlighted the importance of humanitarian demining partnerships and knowledge exchange in his opening remarks before participants began with the workshop discussions, structured to keep abreast of the complex and evolving landscape of IED threats and formulate the best strategic response for national security.

Course facilitators Phil Jowett from Global Clearance Solutions and GICHD’s Harald Schmittgall provide real-world scenarios and the latest technology to create comprehensive procedures and effective co-ordination and implementation.

Course participants have so far appreciated the interagency approach with humanitarian partners and national military sharing the same goal: creating safe environments for communities to flourish, without threat to lives and livelihoods. Also popular is the workshop method, with working groups combining instructors and participants.

The course concludes on Friday and we are grateful to GICHD for convening the workshop, to the HPSS for hosting and to the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) for their cooperation to minimise risk from IEDs to all personnel and communities.