Faced with the global pandemic linked to SARS-CoV-2, the FRONSEC project continued activities thanks to the e-learning platform developed in partnership with Citrus and support of the 7 countries of the North Africa region, Sahel and Mauritania.

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The FRONSEC project, "Strengthening cross-border capacity for control and detection of CBRN substances", has benefited since October 2019 from the involvement of all the stakeholders of the 7 countries of the North Africa region, Sahel and Mauritania.

 

In parallel with the activities of the FRONSEC project, the teams of the SECTRANS projects  [1] , and INSTASUR  [2] , of the European Initiative of CBRN Centers of Excellence, have since their launch developed an e-learning platform in order to ensure the sustainability of the knowledge mobilized during their respective periods of implementation.

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Faced with the exceptional situation caused by the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the world, and thanks to the technical capacities for distance learning developed in 2019 by the INSTASUR and SECTRANS projects, the FRONSEC project implemented its training using e-learning materials. Webinars were thus provided by project experts with the aim of answering questions about distance learning courses and providing tutorials as planned for face-to-face training.

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The distance training program set up as part of the FRONSEC project  thus offers inter-service training for executives destined to become national trainers for the benefit of customs officers, the police, the gendarmerie and the emergency services. These different training sequences are intended to make participants aware of the specific risks presented by NRBC substances, the means of detecting them, identifying them and protecting themselves from their effects so that they are able to raise awareness among officers at borders.

 

The courses constituting each of these sequences approach in a progressive way (non-exhaustive list):

• The basic notions of chemical risks

• Detection of CBRN substances and their precursors

• N, R, B and C characteristics and effects

• The placarding of means of transport, the labeling and packaging of drums and packages

• Personal protection of border agents

 

The training takes place in several stages:

 

An initial self-assessment in 40 questions, followed by free access to the educational sequences of the module over a period of 3 weeks, during which period tutoring is provided via the platform.

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This first step is followed by a 5-day webinar which ends with a final evaluation of all participants, a satisfaction questionnaire and the delivery of an individual certificate. A complementary course is aimed at two participants selected by the National Focal Point in order to support them in setting up their first national training courses.  

 

[1]  SECTRANS: Safer Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail in the Atlantic Seaboard Region of Africa

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[2]  INSTASUR: High Risk Chemical Installations and Risk Reduction in the Atlantic Seaboard Region of Africa

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Detailed program of the E-Learning training

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Module 1: WMD Non-Proliferation

Entry questionnaire module 1

• Introduction

• History of non-proliferation

• ADM types and definitions

• Stages of WMD proliferation

• Current non-proliferation challenges

• Instruments

• Diets

• Guarantees and verifications

• interceptions

Exit questionnaire module 1

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Module 2: CBRN Prevention and Preparedness at Borders

Entry questionnaire module 2

• Chemical risks

• Biological risks

• Radiological and nuclear risks

• TDG

• MD risks carried

Exit questionnaire module 2

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Module 3: Protection of actors involved in the control of CBRN substances

Entry questionnaire module 3

• CBRN Risk Mitigation Procedures at Borders

• Implementation of procedures aimed at limiting the risks of exposure

• Table-top exercise on CBRN risk mitigation procedures at borders

Exit questionnaire module 3

 

Module 4: The fight against illicit CBRN trafficking

Entry questionnaire module 4

• Control flows

  • Introduction

• Requirements to be able to control

• How to detect suspicious use of CBRN products

• Detection of CBRN substances

• The state of the CBRN market

• Container fumigation

• Detection of biological substances

• Detection of chemical substances

• CBRN detection

• Nuclear and radiological detection

• P63 detection

• The hidden ways

• Examples of strategic products

• Border controls

• Truck control

• Container control

• People control (ports and airports)

• Traffic control of people

• Waste control

• Physical control of goods

• Sample collection

• Seizure, storage and destruction

• Assessment of risk profiles

• General risk analysis

• CTS risk analysis - freight and ICS

• CBRN risk analysis

• Documentary checks

• Commercial documents

• Survey methodology

• The CBRN investigation

• A posteriori control

Exit questionnaire module 4

 

Module 5: Andragogy 

Andragogy module entry questionnaire

• Notions of andragogy

• Prepare a training action

• Facilitating a training

• Preparation of the presentation

• Design a slideshow

• Teaching methods

• The components of the trainer profession

• How to evaluate a training

• Animation: summary sheets

Andragogy module exit questionnaire

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Classification of items: specific strategic products

Introduction for trainers

1- CBRN HS codes - chemicals

2- CBRN HS codes - textiles

3- CBRN HS codes - stone and glass articles

4- CBRN HS codes - metal works

5- CBRN HS codes - machines

6- CBRN HS codes - electrical devices

7- CBRN HS codes - optical instruments

Strategic pricing positions & conclusion

Concrete case

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General resources 

Recommended reading

• World Customs Organization (WCO)

• Bibliography

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Serious Game Customs

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Exercises  

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COVID-19 (optional)