One of the key objectives of COPEMED is to create the optimal conditions for the co-operation between the different participating countries. With this aim, the scientific institutions have to be capable of working following patterns and principles as similar as possible. Depending on each specific case, the training activities eligible for COPEMED funding can take several forms:

• Courses or seminars: COPEMED finances the attendance of scientists to training courses and co-ordinates the organisation of specific courses in the sub-region.
• Traineeships in research institutes: the COPEMED network allows the identification of the most adequate hosting laboratories.
• Participation of scientists in fieldwork within the framework of research projects: this form of training is very important, because it concerns the collection of data.
• Travel expenses of experts traveling to a beneficiary institution for consultation on a certain activity.

Training Needs Evaluation

With the purpose of supporting research institutes of the southern riparian countries to define their training needs, expert consultants have been sent to Libya (MBRC), Morocco (INRH) and Tunisia (INSTM), where the same methodology of evaluation has been applied.

The recommendations drawn up in this study are presented below:

• review the curriculum of recent internal training activities in each institute and review the immediate results in terms of improved working practices.
• prior to the implementation of new training courses, identify a course director and possible regional resource people, who could assist in the planning of training.
• in specific disciplines, use one or two knowledgeable researchers from either of the institutes as resource people/teachers on the training courses.
• send each course director to the institute in advance to identify data and other material which could be used in developing exercises and examples directly related to the work of participating researchers.
• all three institutes should initiate weekly or bi-weekly internal technical/scientific seminars to stimulate the internal research environment and facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
• supply at least two copies of FAO resource assessment software (BIODYN, VIT, FiSAT, including manuals) free to each institute.
• all three libraries should be kept updated with the key international journals as well as a copy of ASFA on CD-ROM.
• researchers, in particular at INRH and MBRC, would gain a lot from participation in a course on library search techniques.
• establish regional working groups on specific issues or research areas, e.g. on artisanal fisheries data collection, management of shared stocks, database management, etc.

 
Training activities funded by COPEMED