Engagement With Public Security Forces In Iraq

BP worked with the Government of Iraq to develop a comprehensive programme on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights for the Rumaila oilfield operations in Southern Iraq. One element of this programme is a Training Assistance Programme with the public security provider, the Iraqi Oil Police Force (OPF).

As explained by Safestainable:  

‘Once the agreement was signed, Safestainable (an independent consultancy specialised on sustainable security management) was requested to operationalize the training concept, develop the course schedule and prepare the curriculums for a 3-year Training Assistance Programme, under the guidance and with close support from the Rumaila Security Department. Collaboration was essential to ensure all trainings were relevant to tactical requirements and reflected the operational environment and its constraints.

‘The Training Assistance Programme has been based on a Train the Trainers approach to promote OPF ownership and increase its sustainability. The programme follows a systematic training cycle and relies on a training model called the Systems Approach to Training to guide the formal curriculum development, validation and evaluation process.

‘The programme aimed to develop a cadre of OPF trainers with the skills and knowledge to train their counterparts to effectively carry out all duties. It followed that over the 3 years the OPF trainers would deliver foundation, intermediate and advanced courses to all OPF policemen on the Rumaila field. Arabic speaking training consultants were engaged, all of which had professional backgrounds in senior positions in Middle East and North African public security forces and thereafter with human rights experience gained in the UN or International Committee of the Red Cross.

‘Training consultants initially delivered a pilot course to the OPF to introduce the curriculum, and then participated in the trainer selection process, before delivering a series of “Train the Trainer” courses. Thereafter they acted as mentors to the OPF trainers, providing continuous refresher training and monitoring the quality of training to ensure effective delivery. The Rumaila security training team oversaw all aspects of programme management and ensured continuity in the absence of the visiting training consultants.

Each year the Training Assistance Programme is evaluated to measure its impact on OPF policemen performance and identify further training needs. At the end of the programme a final evaluation is scheduled to measure its impact as a component of the overall Rumaila VPs programme with its objective to maintain security in Rumaila operations carried out under a frame that guarantees the respect of the human rights.’