OPCW Opens 11th Annual Associate Programme

The 11th annual Associate Programme opened on 23 July 2010 at the OPCW headquarters in The Hague. The Associate Programme aims to provide greater understanding of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) for chemists and chemical engineers from OPCW Member States with developing economies, focusing on the promotion of the peaceful uses of chemistry.

The programme is designed to enhance Member States’ national capacity to implement the CWC by offering training in chemistry to personnel from industry, universities and government agencies, and to facilitate trade through the adoption of best practices in the chemical industry. It also broadens the pool of future recruits for CWC National Authorities, institutions and economies of Member States, as well as for the Technical Secretariat.

The Associate Programme was expanded last year as part of the Technical Secretariat’s recent initiative of strengthened cooperation with Africa. It seeks to increase the participation of African Member States in activities that promote the peaceful uses of chemistry and enhance national safety management of chemicals related to the CWC. This year’s programme involves 27 Associates from as many countries, including 13 African countries.*

The 10-week curriculum provides a broad understanding of advanced industrial practices with an emphasis on chemical safety. Associates will be hosted by chemical plants in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Qatar and Spain, and will participate in a 3-week “Chemical Engineering Skills Development Course” at the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. All of these Member States and their national chemical industry associations have extended their support to the Programme.  

In addition, the United Kingdom has made a financial contribution for meeting the costs related to the university segment in Surrey, while the Government of Japan has made an in-kind contribution in support of interpretation services for the participants during their industry training in Japanese companies.

* Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.

OPCW NEWS  23/2010      THE HAGUE, 28 JULY 2010

Categories: Africa, Associate Programme