Background of the project

In the current times of the global pandemic, various United Nations entities combined their efforts to propose a joint project that will implement standards, guidelines, metrics, tools and methodologies to immediately help governments, including Customs and other border agencies, port authorities, and the business community worldwide, to keep transport networks and borders operational to facilitate the flow of goods and services, while containing the further spread of the COVID-19 virus. One of its components focuses on port resilience against invisible threats and on keeping ports safe and operational during pandemics.

TrainForTrade’s project includes the exchange of best practices and new safety standards and the design and delivery of a training package to build essential skills for port community managers to help protect people and secure vital trade in ports (TFT Special Course “Building Port Resilience Against Pandemics”).

Additionally, a dedicated webpage on the TFT platform has been set up to provide information on port responsiveness against pandemics including best practices, recommendations, crisis protocol and reference documents: https://tft.unctad.org/ports-covid-19

eDACUM : Design of the Course Curriculum

The purpose of the phase from the TrainForTrade methodology called Design a Curriculum (DACUM), is to brainstorm on the subject of the new course being designed, i.e. “Port resilience against pandemics”. The goals are to define the objectives and content of job aids to be developed, write training objectives, define target population, and describe what the trainees would be able to do as a result of the training. Furthermore, the DACUM proposes how to design tests for each objective and how to finally sequence the objectives and group them into modules to form a curriculum. The DACUM process for this special course was held virtually for the first time and during three 75-minute sessions via Microsoft Teams and with the use of Padlet platforms.

TrainForTrade BPR Course

  • Build port resilience against pandemics
  • Keep ports safe and operational during pandemics
  • Implement standards, guidelines, metrics, tools and methodologies to facilitate the flow of goods and service
  • Identify suitable technology solutions

Section 1 – Crisis Protocol and Communication Strategy

Section 2 – Staff Management, Well-Being and Resilience

Section 3 – Technology Preparedness

Section 4 – Cargo Flow Continuity

Case studies

This special course is addressed to all actors involved in international trade, especially those involved with port operations. The course primary and secondary target population are representatives from the following organisations:

Primary target:

  • Port Authorities: those include middle and senior managers
  • Private port management companies
  • Port community operators: those include freight forwards, hauliers, customs agents, ship agents
  • Port agents: pilots, harbour masters
  • Line Ministries: Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Commerce

Secondary target:

  • Trade Facilitation Committees
  • Port safety and security officers
  • Trade unions
  • Stevedores
  • Local authorities

SDGs related to this project:

Finance:

This project is financed by United Nations Development Account Tranche 13 (Covid-19)