Protection of Civilians Course 2024
Peace and Security Studies
Course Fee: - All expenses are covered by the KAIPTC. The course is fully sponsored by the Government of Switzerland.
- Tuition, air travel from and to the nearest international airport, visa fees, food and accommodation will be provided by the KAIPTC.
- However, participants will have to bear the cost for travel and medical insurance.
Terms and Conditions:
- The course is conducted in English only. There will be no translation in other languages.
- Priority will be given to applicants from the ECOWAS region, from the field missions and those who have not attended fully sponsored courses at KAIPTC within the last two years.
- In case of selection, the participant will be asked to complete a POC e-learning module of the Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI) prior to the beginning of the course (10 to 15 hours of self-study). The issued e-certificate is a requirement for your final certification.
- All participants are to travel with a travel and medical insurance that includes coverage of COVID-19 treatment, and must be 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.
| In short | |
| Course Date/Duration | 18 – 29 Nov 2024 (two weeks) |
| Course Capacity | 30 participants |
| Target Group | Civilian, Police and Military personnel (see details below) |
| Course Language | English |
| Application Deadline | 15 Sep 2024 |
Background
Since the 1990s, the nature of conflicts has changed dramatically, with most conflicts taking place within the state in the form of civil wars, armed insurrections, violent secessionist movements and other forms of warfare. Civilians constitute the majority of casualties in these contemporary conflicts, being either intentionally targeted or suffering the unintended consequences of violence.
Protection of Civilians (POC) has continuously gained prominence and has become the yardstick against which the success of missions is measured. While it ranks as the priority mandate in a number of current peace operations, peacekeepers on the ground are often not adequately prepared or trained to deal with the protection task.
Course Aim
The aim of the POC24-2 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.
The course is certified by United Nations Department for Peace Operations.
Target Group
The target group mainly includes military, police and civilian personnel who are currently deployed or could be deployed in UN, AU or ECOWAS peace operations at operational level. (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 Civilians as well as gender balance.
Objectives
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 level and understand the process of planning at the tactical level,
- Know how to translate conceptual and legal frameworks of POC into appropriate action at the tactical level.
Course Content
The POC24-1 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,
- Decision Making and Planning,
- POC in Practice (incl. Exercise “CARANA”).
Teaching Method
The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures, case studies, small group works and exercises. The “Collaborative Problem-Based Learning Approach” will be used in the delivery of the course: participants will play an active role under the guidance of an experienced team of facilitators.
How to Apply
Interested applicants are requested to kindly fill and submit an online application form not later than 15 September 2024.
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 latest by 20 September 2024.
Contact
For administrative questions:
Mrs Marylyn AGBLOR
Training Coordinator
Email: Marylyn.Agblor@kaiptc.org
Office: +233 (0) 302 71 8200, Ext. 1012
For course content questions:
LTC Patrick LÜDIN
Swiss Armed Forces
Course Director POC24-2
Email: course.director-CHE@kaiptc.org
Office: +233 (0) 302 71 8200, Ext. 1315
Cell: +233 (0) 53 900 5023