Sixteen middle-level managers from the Tanzania Ports Authority have successfully defended their dissertations and have been awarded UNCTAD's Modern Port Management Certificate.
The candidates' presentations were made before a panel of experts on 22 and 23 November, and were approved. The dissertations were part of the managers' participation in the second cycle of UNCTAD's TrainForTrade Port Training Programme in the United Republic of Tanzania. Five of the graduates are women.
The Port Training Programme supports port communities in developing countries in establishing efficient and competitive services. The programme lasts for 18 to 24 months, and consists of 240 hours of in-class training, port visits, and a final dissertation.
The in-class training is divided into eight modules, which examine all aspects of managing a modern port.
The port visits allow the participants to examine the inner workings of ports and to identify opportunities for improvement.
The final dissertation tests their abilities at applying what they have learned. Candidates must analyse a concrete problem faced by a port community, and propose feasible solutions. For example, the top participant in the programme, Mr. Makiri M. F. Ngangaji, the Business Development Officer of the Tanzania Ports Authority, analysed empirical evidence from Dar es Salaam Port to assess the effects of crane allocation on ship turnaround times.
The Embassy of Ireland in the United Republic of Tanzania hosted the awards ceremony, which was held at the residence of the Ambassador. Irish Aid, Ireland's development agency, helps finance the English-speaking network of the port training programme. Support for the programme is also provided by the Dublin Port Company and the Port of Cork, and by Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
 Ambassador Gilsenan awarding the Modern Port Management Certificate |
At the ceremony, Ms. Fionnuala Gilsenan, Ambassador of Ireland to the United Republic of Tanzania, stressed the importance of the programme, as well as the importance of Dar es Salaam Port to the economic development of the United Republic of Tanzania and to the economies of the landlocked countries that depend on the port for seaborne trade. She highlighted Irish Aid's commitment to the programme as part of its strategy for supporting sustainable development in the United Republic of Tanzania.
Ms. Winnie Paul Mulindwa, Assistant Port Manager of Dar es Salaam Port, drew attention to the positive impact that the programme had already had. A graduate of the first training cycle held in the United Republic of Tanzania, she said that the training she had received had been crucial in preparing her to move into her current position and to assume greater responsibility for port operations.
Mr. Mark Assaf, Officer-in-Charge of UNCTAD's Human Resources Development/ TrainForTrade Section, congratulated the graduates, and two representatives from the Dublin Port Company presented individual awards to the two participants with the highest final scores. In addition, Tanzanian-based representatives from the Delegation of the European Union and the Embassy of the Netherlands were present.
UNCTAD's Port Training Programme also operates through French- , Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking networks.
