Circular Letter 2102

UNESCO - 1, rue Miollis - 75732 Paris Cedex 15
cable address: UNESCO Paris - telex: 204461 Paris - fax: (33) (0)1 45 68 58 12 - contact phone: (33) (0) 1 45 68 40 46
E-mail: p.pissierssens@unesco.org

Paris, 15 April 2004

CIRCULAR LETTER NO. 2102

(English only)

To: All ITSU National Co-ordinators
      ITSU Member States
cc: Chairman, Vice-Chairmen IOC
      Chairman, Vice-Chairman ITSU
      Director ITIC

Dear Sir/Madam,

Subject: UNESCO/IOC ICG/ITSU TRAINING PROGRAMME, 2004 (previously called ITIC Visiting Experts Programme)

Every year the ITSU Programme organizes specialized training for its Member States (ICG/ITSU Training Programme, ITP). Starting in 2004, the ITP Programme will expand its training opportunities to include the ITP-Hawaii and the ITP-International.

The ITP-Hawaii, conducted annually since the 1970s, will consist of a 3-week programme on tsunamis and tsunami warning systems held in Hawaii. An ITP-Hawaii 2004 programme description and provisional agenda is attached.

The ITP-International, newly established during ITSU-XIX, will consist of a 1-week programme held in a Member State that can follow the abbreviated agenda of the ITP-Hawaii and/or focus on the requested needs of the country requesting the assistance. Nominally, the incountry training will also include an evaluation of its tsunami warning risk, capacities to support a national warning system, and assistance in the development of tsunami awareness and other educational materials suitable for local distribution.

Depending on funding, ITSU will support the participation of 2-3 ITP-Hawaii participants, and up to one ITP-International visit. Participants are selected from applications received in response to an IOC Circular Letter.

With the current Circular Letter, ICG/ITSU Member States, and countries with tsunami warning interests, are invited to participate in the 2004 UNESCO/IOC ICG/ITSU Training Programme – Hawaii (ITP-Hawaii) to be held August 9 to August 27, 2004.

Due to financial limitations, only a few candidates will be selected to take part in the programme. I would appreciate it if the names of the candidates are provided to the IOC Secretariat, attention Peter Pissierssens (p.pissierssens@unesco.org), by 15 May 2004.

                                                          Yours sincerely,

                                                                P. Bernal
                                                       Executive Secretary IOC