Pr TAREG02/4 - Training off site emergency

An assessment study in 1996 sponsored by EC identified the lack of systematic training on off-site emergency preparedness (OSEP) as an important limiting factor for successful functioning of OSEP in many Eastern European and NIS countries. Provisions for systematic training of various personnel involved in OSEP were a high priority item for the EC assistance on OSEP. After all of the beneficiary countries confirmed in spring 1997 their interests in such training on OSEP, it was decided to launch this TACIS project on regional basis, in order to be cost effective and to promote coordination and cooperation among the participating countries.

This training project was to:

• organise and execute a programme of training courses for the groups of persons dealing with OSEP at various management levels in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine;
• implement such a programme through a Regional Training Centre located in Russia;
• establish satisfactory conditions through infrastructure support and know-how transfer for continuous and self-sufficient OSEP training over prolonged period after the project completion.

The project started with the development of the training programme in May 1998. The preliminary version was discussed during a Kick-Off Meeting in Obninsk 13-19 July 1998. As a result the programme for the first training course was finalised and described in the Inception Report.
The preparation and updating of the training material including its adaptation to local conditions started in September 1998. The computer hardware needed in the training facility was delivered and installed during spring 1999 in the rooms provided by the local subcontractor.

The lectures to be presented during the first course were arranged in seven trainee groups, nominated depending on their tasks and responsibilities in emergency response organisations in participating countries. The training for these groups was organised in three sessions during September 1999 – April 2000.

Based on the results of the first training course, including the feed-back from trainees as well as from the local lecturers, the training programme was reviewed and the master copies of the training modules were updated and translated into Russian. Although the contract expired mid September 2000, the final outputs in respect of documentation were delivered only late 2000.
Specific objectives were well achieved from Contractor’s point of view. However, the objective related to the expectations for continuous and self-sufficient OSEP training over a prolonged period after the completion of this project was not fully achieved, partly due to the prevailing economic constraints limiting such activities in the partner states. Satisfactory conditions in respect of modern PC based training facilities were established, but their further use appeared to be dependent on additional external support.

Contractor’s performance in general can be considered as good. The project was managed professionally. The delays in launching the training courses were beyond Contractor’s responsibility, due to local difficulties in the nomination of trainees to the training sessions. The implementation took place in a very co-operative atmosphere with the local participants. The first training course together with the training modules was well prepared and adapted to the local circumstances. Special wishes of the local participants were also taken into account, which resulted in a couple of additional modules bringing real added value to the project results.

Project Partners put plenty of effort into the preparation of the initial material for the project in order to facilitate a smooth start. The contribution of the local subcontractor, appointed by the Russian Project Partner, was essential for success. They managed to recruit highly competent local lecturers to the training, whose active input was very important in adapting the training modules, based originally in the newest Western know-how, to the local needs. This resulted in training sessions, which were very appreciated by the trainees from different partner countries. As a result of the good subcontractor performance, the final outputs of the project were very well adapted to the actual needs of the partner countries. Also the training facilities, established in the premises of the local subcontractor under this project, are very good for future training purposes.

As agreed, the project resulted in all the requested deliverables. The full set of updated training material, adapted to the local circumstances, in English and translated into Russian, forms a very good basis for further training. Additional modules, dealing with practical exercises to deepen the understanding of the trainees in the subject, give real added value to the outputs. A special module for those high level trainees, without previous knowledge about PCs and their use in training was of great importance for the success in the first training course.

Based on the statements of the Project Partners the project was appropriate to them. Further confirmation of this view has been received in the form of requests of new partner countries like Armenia to have an opportunity to receive similar training in OSEP.

Project Conclusions

• Project was completed successfully, although the finalisation of the documentation took until late 2000 beyond the official end date.
• The performance of the parties as well as the co-operation between them was good, thus facilitating the achievement of outputs on a good level.
• The project resulted in good training modules for the Off-Site Emergency Preparedness (OSEP) training, tailored to the needs of local partners. In respect of the facilities and competent lecturers, good conditions for continuous and self-sufficient OSEP training in the future were established.
• The project was appropriate for the Project Partners. This was well reflected also in the Russian Federal Programme for Nuclear Safety, which emphasises the importance of OSEP training for improving the communication between different parties in accident conditions. Additionally, some new partner countries have expressed their serious interests in receiving similar training in OSEP.
• The existing economic constraints put the follow-on activities on hold, which negatively affected the expectations for sustainability. In case of a pause for a longer period, the good momentum gained during the project could be lost. Therefore, some additional external support was recommended in order to maintain the infrastructure created for OSEP training during this project.