Final IPPC Training Workshop for PCE Facilitators held in Costa Rica

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat organized and held the final training for the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) Facilitators from 31 October - 11 November 2016 in Punta Leone, Costa Rica under the Standards Trade and Development Facility (STDF) project 401: Training of Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) Facilitators. Magda Gonzales Arroyo, the Capacity Development Committee representative from Latin America, acted as a trainer during the workshop and facilitated the organization of the workshop. Jeffrey Jones and Ana Peralta also acted as trainers in their quality of international phytosanitary consultants. Workshop participants were trained to broaden and enhance their expertise in facilitating the application of the PCE tool. This two-week intensive training was conducted in an effort to improve existing or planned phytosanitary capacity systems with the financial support of the STDF.

Although the PCE is designed in principle as a self-assessment tool, its effective application may require the support of competent facilitators. Trainees were selected on the basis of a solid proven understanding of plant health, stakeholder management skills, knowledge of international and national phytosanitary control systems and familiarity with the IPPC. Participants received an in-depth training on phytosanitary issues and systems, the logical framework approach and facilitation techniques. The training involved a mix of individual and group work, pre-training exercises and e-learning courses. Trained facilitators will thereafter be directed towards new opportunities to apply the tool in practice.

It is expected that by enhancing countries access to suitable PCE facilitators there will be an increase in the number of countries evaluating their national phytosanitary capacity and using PCE results towards designing national phytosanitary action plans to improve their countries plant health status.

For more information on this IPPC STDF 401 Project click here; and for more information on the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation tool click here.