TRAINFORTRADE’s Port Management Programme
The UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE Port Management Programme (PMP) supports port communities in developing countries in delivering more efficient and competitive port management in the future. In order to increase trade flows and foster economic development, the programme creates port networks bringing together public, private and international entities. The aim is to share knowledge and expertise between port operators and strengthen talent management and human resources development in port communities.
The PMP’s main objectives are to:
- Strengthen institutional capacity and management efficiency of ports and related agencies.
- Promote port community participation and public-private partnerships.
- Enhance the competitiveness of ports and the quality of their services.
- Improve the environmental sustainability and social responsibility of ports.
The PMP provides technical assistance in various areas, including port planning, management and operations, logistics and supply chain management, port security, safety and environmental protection, and legal and regulatory frameworks. It also organizes training courses, workshops, and seminars, as well as conducts research and analysis on port-related issues.
The key activities of the PMP include:
- Port Performance Monitoring and Benchmarking: This involves collecting and analyzing data on port performance indicators to assess the efficiency and competitiveness of ports and identify areas for improvement.
- Port Reform and Modernization: This includes providing technical assistance to port authorities and governments in developing and implementing policies and strategies for port reform and modernization.
- Port Community Participation: This involves promoting the participation of all stakeholders in the development and management of ports, including private sector, labor unions, and local communities.
- Capacity Building and Training: This includes organizing training courses, workshops, and seminars for port personnel and other stakeholders to enhance their skills and knowledge in various areas related to port management and operations.
- Technical Assistance and Advisory Services: This includes providing technical assistance and advisory services to port authorities and governments on various issues related to port management and operations.
Overall, the PMP is an important program that plays a significant role in supporting the development of efficient, competitive, and sustainable ports in developing countries, and promoting their integration into the global trading system.
Partner of the month UNCTAD
South-South Cooperation on UN website:
TrainForTrade’s Port Management Programme Core features are
Worldwide
Networks of
port entities
Public-Private
Sustainable training
& capacity building
programme
Talent management
scheme & Value-added
solutions in
port communities
Robust methodology
for digital knowledge
(LCMS)
“Modern Port
Management”
high end course
TRAINFORTRADE’s Port Management Programme
Topics covered by the 8 modules
- International trade and transport
- Organisation of a port system
- Functioning of a port system
- Future challenges to ports
- Methods and tools of port management
- Economic and commercial management
- Administrative and legal management
- Technical management and human resources development
Local delivery creating sustainability and ownership
The Port Management Programme operates through four language-based networks (English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Training in the beneficiary ports is delivered by certified local instructors from the port community, supported by experts from UNCTAD and ports associated with the program. Senior managers from the participating ports are trained to serve as local instructors in order to ensure the programme sustainability and local ownerships. European port partners include the ports of:
- Gijon, Las Palmas and Valencia (Spain)
- Marseille Fos and Nantes Saint-Nazaire (France)
- Belfast (Northern Ireland, United Kingdom)
- Port of Cork and the Port of Dublin (Ireland)
- Leixões and Sines (Portugal)
Hebel Mwasenga (Tanzania Ports Authority)
“TRAINFORTRADE programme is putting ports around the world in one village where information becomes power and tools for development and modernization of our ports.“
Collaboration
North-South, South-South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on knowledge sharing enhanced in line with SDG 17
Partnerships have been developed with European ports that are sharing their knowledge and expertise through the UNCTAD Port Networks in Asian, African, Latin American and Caribbean port communities. Annual regional meetings bring together port officials from different countries, promoting sharing of experiences and expertise. South-south exchange of instructors are regularly conducted inside the Networks in order to increase instructors’ exposure to different port set-up, as well as to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and best practices.
PORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME COVERAGE 60 COUNTRIES
The Port Management Programme operates through 3 language-based networks (English, French, and Spanish) in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Training in beneficiary ports is delivered by local instructors from the port community, supported by experts from UNCTAD and European ports associated with the programme. Senior managers from the participating ports are also trained to serve as local instructors in order to ensure programme sustainability and local ownerships. Up to now the programme benefited more than 9’500 port managers around the world.
The programme has a strong long-standing presence in Africa covering most of coastal countries from West African corridors as reflected on the map below:
| English speaking network | French speaking network | Spanish speaking network | Portuguese speaking network | Partners |
| Bangladesh Cambodia Ghana India Indonesia Jamaica Kenya Malaysia Maldives Namibia Nigeria Philippines Serbia South Africa Sri Lanka United Republic of Tanzania | Algeria Benin Cameroon Comoros Congo Côte d’Ivoire Djibouti Gabon Guinea Haiti Madagascar Mauritania Seychelles Senegal Togo Tunisia | Argentina Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Mexico Nicaragua Peru Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | Angola Brazil Cape Verde East Timor Guinea Bissau Mozambique Sao Tome & Principe | Belgium France Ireland Portugal Spain United Kingdom (NI) |
Best Practice in Development Cooperation
The 2008-2010 pilot phase for the English-speaking Port Management Programme, was positively evaluated by the stakeholders and by Irish Aid (the programme’s main donor). Irish’s Aid’s Review Team concluded that “the partnership between Irish Aid, Dublin Port Company, UNCTAD and the participating ports is an example of best practice in development cooperation”.
The Irish government has been supporting the PMP since 2007 renewing it’s commitment every year based on performance report and results-based management in-line with UN best practices for technical cooperation.
“Irish Aid is pleased to have supported the English-speaking network of the Port Management Programme since its launch in 2007. We have seen first-hand the commitment of ports from across the island of Ireland who provide expert support; the port managers who have participated; and the UNCTAD personnel who run the Programme. The Programme remains a strategic and relevant response to the challenges and growing trade opportunities of developing countries.”
Quote from Irish Aid: Mary Barrett (Assistant Principal, Multilateral Section, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2018)
CONTRIBUTION SCHEME
Based on the principles of cost sharing and in order to ensure the sustainability of the network, each active member country of the TRAINFORTRADE Port Management Programme will allocate the financial resources necessary to cover the implementation and execution of national activities. Apart from the membership fee (USD25,000 per year / per country), each port community, member of the network will commit to allocate a sufficient level of resources to ensure the normal execution of the activities, such as logistics, transport, communication, trainers’ participation and missions.
TESTIMONIALS
PMP Philippines 2015 Testimonials
English-speaking Network Testimonials (test1)
WOMEN IN PORTS
1.Captain Fara Dewi Kartikasari from PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia II (March 2021)
Meet Captain Fara Dewi Kartikasari from PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia II (Persero), one of our port community members.
“Being a #woman does not prevent me from working, and Indonesia Port Corporation is there for me and supports our contributions to our country”, said Capt. Kartikasari from ‘Bima One the tug boat she was navigating in this video.
As we continue to celebrate #InternationalWomensWeek, we urge you to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
2.Ms. Nur Amalina Mohamed from Johor Port, Malaysia (March 2021)
As we celebrate International Women’s Day in 2021, we urge you to #ChooseToChallenge gender discrimination and bias
“I am so in love with this work! For those ladies who aspire to work in the field that is not so common for women my advice is – be yourself! Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you that it can’t be done. If I can skillfully handle this crane, why can’t you? Women are both beautiful and hardworking.”
This is Ms. Nur Amalina Mohamed from Malaysia and she works at Johor Port, one of our port community members Ms. Mohamed is certified to handle 6 different equipment: Terminal Tractors, Forklift, Empty Container Handler, Container Reach Stacker, Rubber Tyre Gantry and Quay Crane “Happy #InternationalWomensDay to all the incredible women. Unleash your potential as nothing can stop you to dominate the world.”, said Ms. Mohamed. We at United Nations Conference on Trade and Development TrainForTrade couldn’t agree more .
3.Sofía Gómez Máñez (Civil Engineer) Head of the Waterways Department of Puerto Buenos Aires, Argantina
“In this month that commemorates the struggle of women for equal rights, I would like to invite and encourage more women to work in the maritime-port world. For more than ten years she has worked as a civil engineer in technical documentation and inspection of port works (such as dredging or conditioning; construction of walls, geophysical studies, etc. – among others). Yes, more than once I returned to the office after a visit to a construction site, with mud up to my knees, with my hair ruffled by the winds, but with the satisfaction that I am doing a job that I love. “My wish is that all women can live peacefully and with the freedom to do what each one is passionate about.”
https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/dia-internacional-de-la-mujer-2021
Related Documents
Port Management Programme Brochure/Flyer
Mandate (Dublin Declaration)
