ISTC announces Tender 'Strengthening the National Legal Framework and Provision of Specialized Training on Biosafety and Biosecurity in Central Asian Countries'

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Project Number:
PROJECT 053

Target Area:
Regional: Central Asia

Duration:
36 months

Consortium Leader/ Implementer: Technology Center (ISTC), Kazakhstan

Consortium Leader/
Implementer contact:
David Cleave


Project Manager contact:
Simonetta Riva

The implementation of this project is managed by EC DG DEVCO.

Strengthening the National Legal Framework and Provision of Specialized Training on Biosafety and Biosecurity in Central Asian Countries

Context

The spread of emergent diseases and invasive species has increased dramatically in recent years. In parallel, numerous developments - such as the rapidly increasing transboundary movements, trade liberalisation, increasing concerns about food safety and the environment - have heightened the need for international cooperation in controlling and managing transboundary pests and diseases. At the same time, biosafety and biosecuriy systems require to be up-to-date with international standards and staff needs proper training and knowledge. Therefore new biosafety and biosecurity initiatives are critical for both public health and to prevent epidemics and pandemics.

Objectives

The overall objective is to enhance biosafety and biosecurity capacities within the Central Asia region by:

• raising awareness and promote collaboration regarding biosafety, biosecurity, emergency response and incident management issues among national stakeholders and reducing proliferation risks through the advancement and promotion of safe and responsible conduct in the field of biological sciences;
• providing support for strengthening of the national legal systems addressing biosafety and biosecurity and reinforcing biological nonproliferation principles, practices and instruments;
• building an inventory/ catalogue of available resources in participating countries to assess the existing means to better assess training needs, to provide training and to map facilities in view of optimizing collaboration during the project and improve quality management as well as sustainability after its conclusion;
• developing and implementing a regional self-sustainable training system for biosafety and biosecurity and improving curricula and methodologies of teaching, preforming "Training of trainers" activities using activity base learning and introducing e-learning tools.

Main Activities

Activities are divided into seven work packages:

• WP1: Assessment and revision of the national legislation and best practices in the area of biosafety and biosecurity, and harmonisation with the appropriate international regulations suh as IHR, BTWC and Codex Alimentarius, including the area of regional emergency response with the aim of coming to a "One Health" system.
• WP2: Organisation of national and regional awareness-raising evebts to sensitize political and executive bodies from the participating countries to biosafety and biosecurity issues.
• WP3: Building a catalogue of the existing regional training capabilities and resources.
• WP4: Building a catalogue of facilities dealing with bio-hazardous materials to target the training in each participating country and procurement of biosafety/security equipment and consumables.
• WP5: Training of Trainers activities and other educational events (Introducing a "security culture").
• WP6: Training of technical, scientific and other professionals involved in biosecurity and biosafety.
• WP7: Strengthening and formalising regional cooperation and the integration of the delivered programs within the already existing national and educational programs, notably at the level of universities.

Tender Notice:

Terms of Reference: