About the Programme
Contemporary complex emergencies require multi-disciplinary responses. The end of the 1990s saw an end to many of the armed conflicts that had ravaged various parts of the world. The 21st century has been confronted with the challenges of building sustainable peace. Consequently, the international community has had to devise multiple responses to the challenges of peacekeeping, peace-building and peace consolidation. Thus, multi-dimensional Peace Support Operations (PSOs) designed to integrate the different components of PSO missions now include the promotion and protection of human rights, protection of vulnerable groups, democratization and good governance and economic development.
The role of civilians in the enforcement of the mandates of multi-dimensional PSOs has been increased, especially with the growing participation of regional organizations in PSOs. The significant role of civilians in PSOs is demonstrated by the numbers currently employed in these operations. Out of the 130,000 personnel currently serving in 28 UN peacekeeping and peace-building operations, about 21,000 are civilians. This suggests the need for adequate numbers to be trained and made readily available for missions. Realizing the need for adequately trained civilians for its Standby Force, the African Union (AU) has made provisions for the establishment of a roster of civilian experts.
Facilitating the success of these complex missions call for effective coordination and collaboration between the various components and actors involved in PSOs. The survival of contemporary missions is also highly dependent on adequate preparedness. However, unlike uniformed personnel in such missions, civilians who fall under the mission chain of command have little or no formal avenues for PSO training. The challenges characterizing such missions call for appropriate training to develop and build the capacity of civilians in such missions. For Africa, it is agreed that part of the challenge will be progressive shouldering of responsibility for the missions to be manned by trained Africans.
In recognition of this need for specific training for the African civilian component of PSOs, the Legon Centre for International Affairs (LECIA), University of Ghana, Legon, and the International Training Programme for Conflict Management (ITPCM) of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa Italy in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and with the financial contribution of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cooperazione Italiana) collaborated to develop the Training Course on Peace-building and Good Governance for African Civilian Personnel (ITPPGG).
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