Workshop on Higher Education and Professional Responsibility in CBRN Applied Sciences and Technology across the Sub-Mediterranean Region 3-4 April 2012. Palazzo Zorzi, Venice Session 1. Status - Culture of Safety and Security and Responsible Science

1. Workshop on
Higher Education and Professional Responsibility
in CBRN Applied Sciences and Technology
Across the Sub-Mediterranean Region
Reports on Progress since BBIC-2007
and Preparation for BBIC-2013
Nisreen Al-Hmoud
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

2. I. Introduction
The Biosafety and Biosecurity International Conference Process
(BBIC) is an Instrument for Stability and Security of the Middle
East and North Africa (MENA) Region in the Biological Field.

3. I. Introduction (cont.)
The BBIC Process:
A tool for the development of cooperative actions
 What is it? Technical and financial assistance
 For whom? Towards MENA region
 Mission: to promote the application of the advances
in the life sciences and related technologies,
appropriate to the priorities of the countries
concerned, with particular attention to the safety
and security

4. I. Introduction (cont.)
 Through:
 Identify priorities (needs/difficulties/remedies).
 Assess how to extend assistance in Biosafety and Biosecurity
(among MENA countries).
 Assess possible synergies with existing initiatives.
 Assess effectiveness of regulatory framework and propose
remedial measures in accordance with international best
practices (including international awareness raising
measures).
 Assess feasibility and methodology for possible establishment
of Regional Training Centers (RTCs).

5. I. Introduction (cont.)
• The BBIC Process is an independent network with its
own decision-making structures.
• It is governed by a Steering Committee (locally
chaired – currently Jordan holds the presidency) and
is composed of regional biennial conferences and a
set of working groups focusing on human and
laboratory capacity building and regulatory and
policy aspects of safe and secure exploitation of life
science capabilities.

6. I. Network Characteristics
• The network is best described as track 1½:
participants come from government (e.g. public
health laboratory directors, public security services,
environment agencies and agriculture departments),
academia, private industry and international
governmental and non-governmental institutions.
• Country participants are engaged in their personal
capacities but are in a position to influence policy and
action in their home countries.

7. I. Network Characteristics (cont.)
• BBIC is open to connecting with other networks within and
outside the region. For example the Middle East Consortium
for Infectious Disease Surveillance (MECIDS).
• Also participating are representatives from major international
and national institutions such as the World Health
Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),
El Hassan Science City (Jordan), the Environment Agency of
Abu Dhabi (UAE), the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (USA), Health Protection Agency (UK) and the
International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA).

8. I. Initiation of the Process
• The process was initiated at a meeting (BBIC-2007) in
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in November 2007.
The conference specifically addressed how the risk
spectrum applied to the MENA region, and assessed
what actions would be required by the countries of the
region to be fully prepared to manage and mitigate
risks across the spectrum.

9. I. The Process Continues….
• So far, the BBIC process has held three conferences,
the second being in Casablanca/Morocco in April
2009.
• BBIC-2009 endorsed a Framework Document for
Regional and National Biosafety and Biosecurity
Strategies for the MENA countries.
• It is a fine example that lays out guidelines that could
contribute greatly to the enhancement of health security in
the Region.

10. I. The Process Continues….
• The Third Biosafety and Biosecurity International
Conference was held at El Hassan Science City, Jordan in
September 2011.
• Following BBIC-2011, key elements of the action over the
next two years include:
– Working group activities and networking in 2012 and 2013
on human capacity building, physical and legal
infrastructure, policy-making and national and regional
prevention and preparedness;
– The development of Regional Biosafety and Biosecurity
Training Centers (RTCS) in Morocco and Jordan;

11. I. The Process Continues….
• Development of a BBIC website to enhance the networking
capacity taking advantage of latest developments in social
networking capabilities;
• Encouraging the development of national biosafety associations
and the development of a regional federation of biosafety
associations;
• Delivery of specialist expertise in biosafety and biosecurity
training, laboratory diagnostics and infectious disease
surveillance where it is most urgently needed in the region;
• Support for activities to develop more funding support from
within the region;
• Preparation for BBIC-2013, to be held in Lebanon.

12. I. Towards BBIC-2013
A. Development of a national biosafety and biosecurity
strategy for Lebanon.
This project is not about building new facilities or buying new
equipment. It is about creating policies and strategies to change
behaviors and outcomes based on the resources currently
available in Lebanon.
B. The setting up of Jordan Association for Biosafety and
Biosecurity (JABB) is nearly completed.
The mission of JABB is to contribute in providing safer work
environment for professional and to raise the awareness,
knowledge and preparedness of concerned parties in issues
related to safety and security .

13. I. Towards BBIC-2013 (cont.)
A. The RTCs in Jordan and Morocco would assist governments in
performing a technological survey with regards to biosafety
and biosecurity.
• The Centers will combine on-site and distance training, theory and
practical.
• The two RTCs would complement each other; by consequence, the
RTCs will be specialized centers.
• Morocco, represented by the Regional Observatory for Environment
and Sustainable Development in Tangier, will establish a RTC based on
the mandates contained in the Casablanca Declaration. It will mainly
specialize in biosafety and biosecurity training across the entire
biological risk spectrum as adopted by the BBIC Process Steering
Committee.

14. I. Towards BBIC-2013 (cont.)
• Jordan, represented by the El Hassan Science City, has chosen to
create a RTC primarily for national and regional participants in
the field of environmental surveillance (water quality, disease,
air).
• The Center will promote a culture of awareness, shared sense of
responsibility, ethics, and respect of codes of conduct within the
national and regional life science community.
• The Center will support the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Heath and Ministry of
Environment, and all concerned national universities and
institutions to effectively execute the National Biosafety
Protocol.

15. i. …… In Conclusion
• The Biosafety and Biosecurity International
Conference Process in the Middle East and North
Africa is a network to insure Healthier and more
Secure Communities in the Middle East and North
Africa.
• The approach is a holistic one, one world view of all
biological risk across the spectrum of natural,
accidental and intentional threats as they pertain to
humans, animals, plants and the environment,
including water.

16. i. …… In Conclusion
• There is no other pan-regional network in this multi-
disciplinary field of endeavor in the MENA region.
• In the current turbulent developments throughout the region
this project has assumed even more importance than hitherto
as a bridge across the most sensitive political boundaries in
the region whether in the central Middle East, across the Gulf
or within the Maghreb
• It is exemplary in encouraging intra-regional collaboration
across very sensitive political boundaries. Interest has been
expressed to using the BBIC Process as a model for other
regions of the world, in particular for Sub-Saharan Africa.

17. Nisreen Al-Hmoud
nisreen@rss.jo