You are here : programmes : safety and security : arms management : capacity building

Institutional framework capacity building

Botswana District Task Force Training (14 June - 05 July 2005)

The creation of the National Action Plan for Botswana (NAP) was completed during May 2004, and was officially launched on 2 August 2004. One of the initial steps towards the implementation of the plan was the creation and training of the different District Task Forces (DTFs). In support of this purpose, a series of workshops were conducted throughout Botswana over the period 14 June – 05 July 2005.

The workshops were facilitated by representatives from both the Botswana National Focal Point (NFP) and SaferAfrica. The following personnel facilitated the training:

  • SSP Colin Moalosi (NFP)
  • Supt Grace Raditlhalo (NFP)
  • Sarel Buijs (SaferAfrica)

The DTF training involved the training team travelling to each district in Botswana to conduct two-day workshops. In total, there were 168 participants in the six workshops. Participants from every district of Botswana were invited to the workshop as per a generic list of relevant role players. At a district level, the invited participants included:

    • District Commissioner (DC) (Officiated the Opening)
    • Divisional Police Commander (where applicable)
    • Representative of the Attorney General
    • Officer Commanding Police District
    • Regional Security Intelligence Officer (RSIO)
    • District Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO)
    • Area Security Intelligence Officer (ASIO)
    • Local Police District Commander
    • District Customs Official (DCO)
    • District Immigration Official (DIO)
    • BDF Representative
    • District Wildlife Representative
    • District Magistrate
    • Local Government
    • Civil Society Representative

The workshops were conducted as follows:

District Task Force

Date

Venue

Attended by district number

Number of participants

 

Gaborone

14 -15 June 2005

Maharaj Conference Centre

3, 13, 11, 12

39

DTF Gaberone

Palapye

16 - 17 June 2005

Pioneer Industrial Centre

2, 8

23

DTF Palapye

Francistown

20 - 21 June 2005

Kutlwano Police Station

1, 10

43

DTF Francistown

Kazangulu

23 - 24 June 2005

Toro Lodge

7

14

Botswana NFP 2005

Maun

27 - 28 June 2005

Old Council Chambers

5, 6

20

DTF Maun

Jwaneng

04 - 05 July 2005

Jwaneng
Community Hall

4, 9, 14

29

DTF Jwaneng

Total

 

 

 

168

 


Workshop objectives

In each of the six district workshops, the same format was followed and the same objectives applied.

The objectives of these workshops were:

  • To develop and strengthen the capacity of national and District officials to manage and administer small arms control and disarmament.
  • Increase synergy within and between the different national and District institutions, focusing on the implementation of the Botswana National Action Plan.
  • To inform civil society of the strategy of the National Action Plan for small arms management and disarmament, the role of civil society in implementing and sustaining the NAP, and bringing together all sectors of Botswana civil society behind these issues.
  • To create formal District Task Forces.

After attending the course, each participant should achieve the following training objectives on specific thematic issues:

  1. Working knowledge of the following international, regional and sub-regional agreements:

    • The UN Programme of Action
    • The Vienna Protocol
    • The Bamako Declaration
    • The SADC Protocol

  2. Understand the link between the international, regional and sub-regional agreements and protocols, and the Botswana National Plan of Action. As such, they must have a working knowledge of:

    • The process that led to the creation of the National Action Plan;
    • The strategy behind the National Action Plan, including the phases and the building block approach for implementation;
    • The role and responsibility of the international community, the government and civil society in the implementation and sustainability of the National Action Plan.

  3. In-depth understanding of the national implementation structure, composition, role, functions and responsibilities of the following:

    • Central Intelligence Committee
    • National Focal Point on firearms
    • District Task Force for Arms Management

  4. In-depth understanding of the role, responsibilities and functions of the District Task Force for Arms Management and disarmament, including:

    • The different phases of the National Action Plan, the objectives and programmes per phase;
    • The role, function, and responsibilities of the DTF per phase;
    • The role and function of the co-ordinator and project management office per phase;
    • The role, function and responsibility of the National Focal Point per phase.

  5. A working knowledge of the rationale behind the Training Manual on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Outcome

In addition to the training provided, the District Task Forces were formally created, and mandated to start with the implementation of the National Action Plan at the district level.

Each District Task Force is responsible for choosing its own members. Although the organisation of each of the DTF’s differs slightly, they all had the same basic structure:

  • District Police Commander (DTF Chairperson)
  • BDF Representative (DTF Vice-chair)
  • DCIO (DTF Secretary)
  • District Revenue Officer
  • District Immigration Officer
  • Wildlife representative
  • Area Security/Intelligence Officer
  • Local Police Commander
  • Magistrate
  • Chief Representative/Kgosi
  • Representative Prisons
  • Crime Prevention
  • VDC
  • Civil Society
  • Representative Education

This was the first of four rounds of District Task Force training. Three further rounds of training will follow.



to top




about us | events | programmes | publications | contact us

Copyright © 2006 SaferAfrica