Successful implementation of the first COLIBRI National Online Training Course in Uruguay between 20-31 July 2020
The COLIBRI Project is designed to improve coordination and information sharing in order to develop the capacities of customs officials and their partners in the fight against organized crime and illicit trafficking, to strengthen the rule of law and therefore to contribute towards sustainable development and peace. This mandate adheres to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 and the third objective of the WCO Strategic Plan; Protecting Society, Public Health and Security, and Contributing To The Fight Against Crime and Terrorism.
The COLIBRI Project aims to help Customs administrations and other law enforcement partners involved in the fight against cross-border crime (e.g. Police, Army and Civil Aviation) to strengthen the technical capacities for targeted and coordinated controls of General Aviation. This includes promoting the international and inter-agency coordination required to carry out effective and efficient control procedures. This initiative emphasises the importance of implementing modern risk analysis, targeting and control techniques.
The Project’s planning and capacity building component has been affected by the current COVID-19 worldwide health crisis and therefore planned training courses were postponed whilst project activities were reshaped in order to minimise the effects of the pandemic and advance the implementation of the project and its training element.
The training course has been designed based on the General Aviation Surveillance and Control Pedagogical Manual which has been developed in the framework of COLIBRI and will be offered in two phases: the first phase is to be provided online and focus on theoretical aspects; the second practical phase will be held on-site as soon as the global situation changes to allow travel and physical presence collective training. The theoretical part of the training includes, among others, the following modules: Introduction to General Aviation; Respect for Human Rights in control action; The International Normative Framework; General Aviation Infrastructures and Legal requirements; General Aviation Activities; Communication systems and procedures in air operations; Risk indicators.
The online design of the theoretical part of the training, totaling 20 hours of teaching spread over two weeks, has been completed so as to start in July 2020. The first national online training was successfully delivered to Uruguay between 20 to 31 July 2020. The course brought together 37 Uruguayan officials from Customs, the Air Force, the National Police, DINACIA and the National Prefecture. Other participants included a group of 17 experts who collaborated with COLIBRI and were instrumental in the initial design of the General Aviation Surveillance and Control Pedagogical Manual which underpins the theoretical part of the training course. The course proved very productive and although on-line, the forum allowed the expert-trainers and the participants to engage in discussions and debate to allow greater understanding of the topics covered.
The project coordinator closed the two-week course by thanking the administrations, participants, and the experts-trainers for their excellent work and commitment:
“The first COLIBRI Online Training has been a success and this is the result of your engagement and work, therefore I would like to thank you all on behalf of the COLIBRI team. We hope to be able to come back to face-to face training very soon, but for the time being, and in light of the health crisis, the online training is indeed a key tool to guarantee the basis from which to then develop the practical part of the training, on the ground and in person.”
The next sessions of the online training will be held in September, October and November 2020.
