POTRAI – Support to pre-deployment capacity of the police in Iraq

On September 13th the work to rebuild Iraqi Police Training School in Baghdad has been inaugurated. The refurbishment works will be completed within 90 days and will result in an increase in accommodation capacity of up to 150 beds and connected facilities (meeting rooms, gymnasium, recreation rooms, etc.). The Police Training School has been hosting a contingent of Italian Carabinieri since 2015, when they started the training activities to the Iraqi police forces in the field of internal security and territorial control, with a focus to activities related to the areas liberated by ISIL/Da’esh. The training is provided according to the best Italian and European standards, including with regard to gender and equality issues. The works are funded by the European Union, and namely the Istrument for the Stability and Peace (IcSP). They will contribute to increasing the hosting capacity and, therefore, the training capacity with the aim of preparing as much Iraqi police officers as possible and of expanding the trainers’ team by including also representatives of other European forces. The procurement procedure managed by Studiare Sviluppo was completed in August. Following an international tender procedure, the work contract has been awarded to the Iraqi company Al-Sami, while the direction of the works has been entrusted to Integra AES srl. Both contractors are supported by the resident engineer – the Carabinieri Captain Ms. Filippini. On 6th October, one representative of the EU’s Regional Team for the MENA countries – Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) will visit the Camp and meet the experts’ team of POTRAI project.