China affirms funding support for ICAO’s post-pandemic aviation training programs

April 1st 2023

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The Chinese government has provided funds to assist the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in launching a civil aviation master planning (CAMP) training program to be offered across the region. Read More » The joint project will provide quality and competency-based training opportunities to participants nominated by Member States to help the region better recover from the pandemic and build a more resilient aviation system.

Master planning of the aviation system is critical to ensuring a State [nation] is ready to revitalize the sector post-COVID, the UN aviation agency said. “It is fundamental for States to develop a CAMP to provide their governments with the prospects for civil aviation within their States,” ICAO said. “To meet the needs of Member States for developing or updating their master plans for aviation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund of China has provided ICAO with a voluntary contribution to develop and deliver the ICAO Training Package (ITP) on Civil Aviation Master Planning.”

China announced creation of the fund to support South-South cooperation and assist developing countries in implementing their agendas at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit held in September 2015. In 2017, it committed to a replenishment of US$1 billion for the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund at a Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

By the end of that year, China had signed cooperation agreements with 15 international organizations, including the World Food Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization, and had implemented hundreds of development cooperation projects in 27 countries and regions in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The programs covered food safety, post-disaster reconstruction, refugee relief, medical treatment and public health, maternal and child health, poverty alleviation, education and training, and trade and investment facilitation.

Aviation in developing countries, particularly after the pandemic, has become a critical element of the recovery. ICAO said “globalization, communications and markets have expanded around the world thanks to aviation. By spurring tourism and trade as it continues to grow, aviation contributes to increasing consumer benefits and choices, creating jobs and generating numerous socio-economic spin-offs for States”.

“The increased connectivity aviation delivers should lead States to further reinvest in this sector, thus creating a healthy cycle of aviation development and economic prosperity in States and regions which set out suitable planning and investment commitments.” It said as the industry continues to recover from the pandemic, training on CAMP will effectively support developing States in their efforts.

ICAO’s Asia-Pacific Office organized the first Regional Sessions of the Civil Aviation Master Planning (CAMP) Training Courses in Kathmandu and Bangkok in October last year. The courses were delivered to nominated participants from ICAO Asia-Pacific States under the auspices of the ICAO Global Aviation Training (GAT) CAMP Scholarship Program.

Funded by China to the tune of $1.62 million, ICAO initiated a dedicated project in 2021 to develop and deliver the new ITP CAMP training course.

It addresses the critical needs of managing States’ civil aviation master plans and integrating the civil aviation sector into national development plans. It also provides senior and middle managers of the State’s Civil Aviation Authorities with the competencies required to develop, implement and update a CAMP, including the recovery from COVID-19. Various ICAO Regional Offices will deliver CAMP courses throughout this year.