ESDC course on Disaster Relief in CSDP Context (pilot-course)

Within the framework of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (also known as the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute) in cooperation with G.S. Rakovski Defence College and Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) are offering the Disaster Relief in CSDP Context pilot-course, the first training activity on this topic in the ESDC academic offer.

The course is designed for personnel with civilian (diplomatic/consular, police, judicial, intelligence of humanitarian non-governmental organisations staff) and military backgrounds, having expertise and operational experience in civil protection, disaster relief and/or humanitarian assistance. The course is open to participants from third countries. However, priority will be given to experts from EU Member States, relevant EU institutions and agencies and from the EU Delegations that can be deployed in Fact Finding Missions in disaster stricken areas as teams of EEAS/EUMS or DG ECHO.

The course organised in Sofia (Bulgaria) from 28 November to 1 December 2017 will provide basic knowledge about the impact of man-made, natural and climate driven disasters on the European Security (and in particular on conduct of CFSP/CSDP). Participants will learn about the EU institutional structures, mechanisms and instruments employed in disaster relief, rescue and humanitarian activities (with emphasis on synchronization of diverse civilian and military CFSP/CSDP assets in disaster response). Field practitioners will share their experience in disaster relief operations, from diplomatic and military perspectives. The comprehensive/integrated approach to crisis management (with emphasis to civ-mil coordination in disaster relief) will be given due consideration. In the same time, the EU partnerships and cooperation in terms of policies and practices with stakeholders in the field (UN, NATO, leading humanitarian NGO) will be addressed.

The practical dimension of the course will be accomplished through a syndicate session and a simulation exercise (covering planning templates and learn techniques on how to deal with disasters). Throughout the course, participants will have the opportunity to benefit from the know-how of European institutions and Members States experts and to network and share views with professionals in disaster relief, building on the European security culture.

It is therefore with great pleasure that Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute together with G.S.Rakovski Defence College and CMDR COE invite you to nominate suitable candidates for the ESDC pilot-course Disaster Relief in CSDP Context. Deadline for registration of is 3 November 2017.

For initial familiarization with the pilot-course learning outcome, the topics and the administrative arrangements in place (including the modalities of registration for participants from EU Member States or for third country nationals), the following documents are annexed: tentative program, list of recommended readings/materials and practicalities. The final programme and the detailed information will be provided to all confirmed participants.