Protection of Civilians Course – POC26-1
Peace Support Operations
Course Fee: - 100.-USD(upon selection, non-refundable; see T&Cs)
Terms and Conditions:
- The Selection Committee will prioritize applications from the ECOWAS region, from UN / AU / ECOWAS missions and those who have not attended sponsored courses at KAIPTC within the last two years.
- Upon selection, applicants are required to pay a non-refundable Registration Fee of USD 100.- by credit card. Payment details will be communicated upon selection. If the Registration Fee is not received by the “Deadline Payment Registration Fee”, the applicant's selection will be revoked and the seat offered to a waitlisted candidate. The Registration Fee is non-refundable once paid, regardless of whether the participant subsequently withdraws. Registration Fees will only be refunded in case of course cancellation by the KAIPTC.
- Apart from the Registration Fee, the course is fully sponsored by the Government of Switzerland, including tuition, air travel from the participant's nearest international airport to Accra and return, visa fees, food and accommodation at the KAIPTC.
- Selected participants who are unable to attend the course must notify the Course Director in writing at the earliest opportunity. Participants who withdraw less than 14 days before the course start date or fail to attend may be required to reimburse KAIPTC for any non-recoverable flight ticket costs incurred on their behalf. Non-payment may result in the participant and/or their sponsoring institution being excluded from consideration for future KAIPTC courses.
- In case of selection, the participant will be required to complete an e-learning course prior to the beginning of the course. The issued e-certificate is a requirement for participation in the course and needs to be submitted by email to the Course Director by the “Deadline Submission POTI Certificate“.
- The course will be conducted entirely in English. There will be no translation in other languages. Participants are expected to have a minimum proficiency level in English of B2 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- All participants are to travel with a travel and medical insurance which is valid for additional two weeks after course end date. The KAIPTC and the Swiss Government do not accept any responsibility for medical treatment and travel or other insurance.
- Participants should note that Ghana requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry.
- By submitting an application, applicants consent to the collection, processing and storage of the personal data provided in the application form — including but not limited to name, rank, date of birth, nationality, passport details, employer and contact information — for the sole purpose of administering the selection process, organising travel and visa arrangements, and conducting the course. Applicant data may be shared with external parties. KAIPTC will not disclose personal data to any third party for purposes unrelated to the course without the prior consent of the applicant.
| In short | |
| Course Date/Duration | 29th June– 10th July 2026 |
| Registration Fee | 100.-USD(upon selection, non-refundable; see T&Cs) |
| Format | in-person, on-site with online pre-course |
| Course Capacity | max. 30 participants (approx. half through open application) |
| Target Group | Civilian, Police and Military personnel |
| Course Language | English |
| Application window | 26. March – 03. May 2026 |
| Date Communication of Selection | 08. May 2026 |
| Deadline Payment Registration Fee | 15. May 2026 |
| Communication Joining Instructions | 22. May 2026 |
| Deadline Submission POTI Certificate | 19. June 2026 |
Background
The changing nature of armed conflict has resulted in an increased interface between civilians and combatants, to the extent that contemporary conflicts have been described as “wars among the people.” Civilian populations bear the greatest burden of today’s complex and protracted conflicts. These shifts have necessitated both doctrinal and operational changes in peace support operations.
Protection of Civilians has increasingly become a core component of contemporary peace operations. Despite growing international commitment to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) norm, peacekeepers and other actors involved in peace support operations are often inadequately prepared or trained to meet the demanding challenge of protecting civilians.
Course Aim
The aim of the POC course is to enhance the capacity of participants for the effective implementation of POC mandates in Peace Operations, in order to mitigate the effects of conflicts on civilians.
Target Group
This course is targeted at military, police and civilian personnel who are currently deployed or will be deployed in UN, AU or ECOWAS peace operations at operational level in the coming 12 months. (For military officers: Maj, Lt Col, Col or equivalent; for police officers: ASP to CSUPT or equivalent; for civilian staff: P3 to P5, or equivalent).
- UN/AU/RECs Staff,
- Mission personnel,
- Military & Police personnel,
- Humanitarian Actors,
- Government officials,
- Non-Governmental Organizations,
- Civil Society Organizations.
We strive for an equal participation of Military, Police and Civilian experts as well as gender balance. A main criterion for selection of participants is their active involvement in the field of Protection of Civilians.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, participants will:
- Know the key concepts of protection of civilians (POC), child protection (CP), and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Peace Operations,
- Understand the role of different protection actors,
- Understand the relevance of the core legal concepts and norms supporting POC,
- Identify POC strategies at all levels and understand the UN decision making and planning process,
- Know how to translate conceptual and legal frameworks of POC into appropriate action at the tactical level.
Pre-Course Requirement
To maximise the value of the ten-day residential programme, all selected participants must complete a POC e-learning course of the Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI). Expect approximately 20 hours of time to complete the course and obtain the e-certificate. The common knowledge baseline enables participants to engage more deeply, contribute more to peer discussions, and retain more from training.
Course Content
The POC course combines theoretical and practical sessions on the following modules:
- Introduction to POC,
- UN and AU Approaches to POC,
- Legal Framework of POC,
- POC and its Interlinkages to SSR, R2P and Terrorism,
- Gender and POC,
- Climate Security and POC,
- Mis- & Disinformation,
- Decision Making and Planning,
- POC in Practice (incl. Exercise “CARANA”).
The course follows the curriculum of the Protection of Civilians course of the United Nations Department for Peace Operations.
Format & Teaching Method
The e-learning component is described under Pre-Course Requirement above.
The on-site component at the KAIPTC in Accra, Ghana, is delivered in-person over 2 weeks. Virtual attendance is not possible. Participants will play an active role under the guidance of an experienced team of facilitators using a combination of lectures, case studies, small group works and exercises based on the “Collaborative Problem-Based Learning Approach”.
Note that this is an active, participatory programme that treats participants as experienced professionals. The weekly program is intensive, includes physical training and evening sessions, with working hours typically from 08:00 to 19:00.
Certification
Participants who successfully pass the course receive a personal certificate from the KAIPTC signed by the Commandant as well as a print of the course photo.
How to Apply
- Interested applicants should submit the online application form during the indicated “Application Window”. Access the application by pressing the “How to Apply” button.
- The course usually attracts a lot of interest. A selection committee decides on the final admission to the course. Applicants are informed of the outcome of the selection committee together with payment instructions for the Registration fee by the indicated “Date Communication of Selection”.
- Detailed Joining Instructions will be sent by the indicated “Communication Joining Instructions” date.