Wetlands management training

International Training of Trainers on Wetlands Management
The Pakistan Wetlands Programme is hosting an International Training of Trainers Programme on Wetlands Management. The course aims to impart the necessary knowledge and skills to the participants for developing a sound understanding about the significance of multi-stakeholder processes in wetlands management. Under this premise, the main focus of the training course will be on understanding the significance of identifying common areas of interest for various stakeholder groups.  The enhancing of participatory planning and creation of collaborative partnerships for effective wetlands management will also be emphasised.  An important practical aspect of this course is to enable the participants to design and develop curricula for their respective regions or areas.
Aims and Objectives
The primary condition for achieving integrated wetlands management is the willingness of sectoral stakeholders to work together.  To achieve the necessary cooperation, stakeholders in a catchment area need to be able to understand each other clearly.  Steps to achieve understanding of the various views and to explore how far such separate perspectives can be shared, will be one of the main issues covered within the International Training of Trainers Course on Wetland Management.

The TOT Course aims to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary for curriculum development in the field of wetlands management in their own region. The course will focus on the multi-stakeholder processes that play an important role in wetlands management and the need for transboundary and cross-sectoral co-operation to manage the natural resources of river basins and their wetlands.

Programme Topics

1-Concepts in Wetlands Management
Concepts in wetlands management - ecological, social and economic perspectives - as well as an ecosystem approach, Ramsar, the CBD and other multilateral international agreements.

2-Facilitation of Multi-stakeholder Processes
Multi-stakeholder processes, tools and techniques to support the facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes in wetlands management, public participation, stakeholder involvement in decision-making and conflict management.

3-Wetlands Management Fieldwork
Wetlands management, stakeholder analysis and public participation in practice.

4-Adult Education and Social Learning
Participatory learning principles, learning styles, the learning cycle, educational psychology, raising awareness, training skills.

Course Design:
The course has been designed to provide an interactive forum where participants will be encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences. To facilitate an interactive learning environment, a combination of learning methods has been adapted, such as field assignments, presentations, and social excursions.
The interactive course will emphasis personal contributions by the participants.  Besides lectures the course will contain fieldwork, technical and social excursions.  The TOT Course will also provide an opportunity for professional networking fostered by the institutions organising the course, as a follow-up to the training session.

Venue:
Training course will be conducted at Ayubia National Park, located at 34.057 N and 73.417 E, a famous place for its beautiful landscape and biodiversity.

Dates:
The training course will be held from March 22nd to April 9th, 2010.

Target Audience:
The TOT Course has been designed for practicing and future trainers in wetlands management.  The course programme is suitable for wetlands managers and land-use planners, policy makers, consultants, researchers and NGO staff involved in training.  The course will be relevant to participants from all climatic zones.

Requirements for Admission
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
a-Have at least a Bachelor's level qualification or equivalent educational background;
b-Have at least two years of professional experience;
c-Be involved in wetlands management and preferably assigned to capacity-building in wetlands management; and
d-Be relatively fluent in spoken and written English.

Certificate
Participants will be presented with a certificate after successful completion of the training course.

Registration Fee
The registration fee for this course is US$ 500.  This amount includes administration costs, course lecture materials and field trips.

Registration Deadline
The deadline for registration January 25th, 2010.  Early registration is recommended.

Tahir Mehmood
Coordinator Capacity Building and Training
Pakistan Wetlands Programme
WWF-Pakistan
House No. 3, Street No. 4,
Sector F-7/3, Islamabad
Ph: ++92-51-2610880-5
Fax:++92-51-2610978
Cell:++92-333-5726717
Alternate email:
drtabsum@gmail.com