Integrated Peace Support Operation (IPSO) COURSE at KAIPTC

Course Dates   14 June 2010 to 02 July 2010

Course Outline

The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre offers a three-week foundation course on Integrated Peace Support Operations (IPSO) from 14 June - 02 July, 2010h to limited number of Civilian- and Police / Gendarmerie participants as well as the Ghanaian Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC). This course (IPSO 2010) provides the opportunity for future or experienced actors involved in peace support operations to enhance their own professional skill levels in an IPSO environment, in turn enhancing the effectiveness of African personnel engaged in future peace support operations. This is a critical issue considering the number of peace support missions that are currently ongoing in Africa as well as the creation of a roster of skilled civilians under development to support the African Standby Force (ASF) at regional levels.

Course Aim

The aim of the course is to study the operational level planning, coordination and conduct of Peace Support Operations as part of conflict management in order to enhance the effectiveness of those personnel engaged in future operations.

Course Content

Objective week 1: To study the universalism of IPSO - UN, AU and Regional aspects as well as the nature of African conflict.
Content: The nature of African conflict, its analysis and impact on youth and children and strategies to mitigate; The Legal Framework of IPSO; Joint African Exercise (operational Planning for IPSO) - a three days theory and simulation module.

Objective week 2: to develop students’ understanding on integrated PSO at Operational Level International Humanitarian law in IPSO; Use of Forces / Rules of Engagement; Gender Issues in IPSO; Civilian, Military, Police and Governmental Dimension of IPSO; Crisis Mapping, Negotiations / Mediation / Facilitation in IPSO; Introduction to the United Nations System; Strengthening UN Conflict Transformation Capabilities: The Peace building Commission; UN humanitarian policy on CIMIC; Logistics in IPSO; ECOWAS Standby Forces (ESF)-Logistics in IPSO and Coordination between IPSO elements.

Objective week 3: To enhance students' understanding on integrated PSO & practicing at Operational Level DDR in IPSO; Security Sector Reform (SSR); CIMIC in IPSO; Social & economic dimension of conflict resolution; UNHCR; African Security Architecture; final Simulation Exercise. 

Course Participants

The principal target audience for this IPSO 2010 course will be predominantly middle-level, AU and ECOWAS civilian staff, and members of African civil organizations (IO’s and NGO’s), dealing with security-related aspects from relevant departments include foreign relations, security cooperation, planning, army, peacekeeping, and conflict prevention and management. Other participants will include civil staff and police/gendarmerie staff who are serving in current West African UN Missions.  Selection will strive to achieve gender balance of participants as much as possible. Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College will participate as well.

Relevant Facts

- Maximum intake on the course – 35 civil / police participants.
- KAIPTC has residential accommodation for all participants.
- The course teaching methods will apply the principles of Problem Based Learning (PBL) and facilitation.
- Guest facilitators/presenters with field experiences will be invited to enrich the course content.
- Participants have to contribute with personal “homework” in the form of individual practical projects (IPP) prior to the course beginning. These projects allow participants to share their own experiences and expertise and thus, an opportunity to enrich the entire training program.
- Estimated budget costs will be covered by Government of Switzerland and include facilitation fees, travel, food and accommodation for participants and facilitators. UN and other personnel are encouraged to fund their own travel, which will help reduce overall costs considerably

Application deadline: 16 April 2010

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