𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 (𝐇𝐄𝐄) 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄/ 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 (𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐓) 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

The Heavy Engineering Equipment (HEE) Intermediate / Explosive Hazard Awareness Training (EHAT) Course sponsored by the Government of Japan and Switzerland through the United Nations Triangular Partnership Programme (UNTPP) equips 29 participants from Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana with critical, mission ready skills to operate safely and effectively in explosive hazard affected environments. The course delivers focused standards-based training that strengthens operational readiness, enhances risk awareness, and directly contributes to the safety, effectiveness, and performance of peace operations.The training places strong emphasis on practical application and risk informed decision making, enabling participants to effectively identify, assess and mitigate explosive hazards in complex operational settings. By fostering a shared understanding of safety procedures and operational standards, the course enhances interoperability among peacekeepers from different troop contributing countries, strengthens personnel protection, and supports coordinated and effective mission execution across United Nations peace operations.The course stands as a strategic investment in the professionalization of peacekeeping, strengthening collective preparedness to address evolving threats in contemporary mission environments. By building a cadre of skilled and confident personnel from the region, the training supports sustainable capacity development and reinforces the United Nations’ commitment to safer, more effective and accountable peace operations.

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 (𝐂𝐏𝐎𝐂)

The current Peace Support/Keeping Operation (PSO/PKO) setting has become increasingly dynamic and complex with civilians bearing the greatest brunt. Due to this, Protection of Civilians (POC) has taken center stage as a prominent mandate and, more often than not, is used to measure success of peace operation.

Protection of civilians in definition is “Without prejudice to the primary responsibility of the host state, integrated and coordinated activities by all civilians and uniformed mission components to prevent, deter or respond to threats of physical violence against civilians within the mission’s capabilities and areas of deployment through the use of necessary means up to and including deadly force.”

The Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course (CPOC), co-sponsored by the Republic of Slovenia through Peace Operations Training Centre (Slovenia) and the United Kingdom through the British Peace Support Team Africa, aims to enhance participant’s understanding of POC intricacies and frameworks and, consequently, contribute towards operational effectiveness of African Standby Force.

The course brings together 30 participants from the Military, Police, and Civilian components, representing 19 countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, The Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uganda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Zambia.

At the end of the course, the participants will understand POC Concepts, principles and mission components’ tasks with special attention to Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and child protection within the context of PSO/PKO.

And when in doubt whether someone is a civilian, they are!

𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐒 (𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄) 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

The Regional Women Ammunition Technical Experts (RWATE) Course, sponsored by the Government of Austria, is a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and technical capacity in ammunition management across the region. The course provides a critical platform for empowering women professionals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to contribute effectively to safe and secure ammunition management in support of peace and security operations.Bringing together participants from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia, Tanzania, and South Africa, the two-week course fosters regional cooperation and peer learning among women practitioners. Through intensive hands-on training, practical exercises, and structured knowledge exchange, participants enhance their technical expertise while building strong professional networks that extend beyond national borders.The event, graced by the Austrian Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Christian Fellner, highlights the Government of Austria’s continued commitment to advancing gender equality, capacity building, and sustainable peace and security initiatives in the region. His engagement underscores the importance of investing in women as key actors in technical and security-related fields.The course represents a significant step toward building safer, more resilient, and inclusive communities. By empowering women as ammunition technical experts, the initiative not only addresses critical security needs but also reinforces the essential role of women in shaping sustainable peace and security outcomes across the region.