The Training for Peace (TfP) Programme at ACCORD, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN), held a consultation on the Review of Civilian Capacities for Peace Operations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 08 December 2010.

At the forefront of this Regional Consultation was Mr Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Mr Guéhenno has been appointed Chair of the Senior Advisory Group for the Review of International Civilian Capacities for Peacebuilding. The Group’s main aim is to improve the international response to countries emerging from conflict through the use of combining civilian forces at regional, national and international level.

Today’s peace operations involve civilian experts to address a host country’s immediate needs and longer-term capacity-development requirements. Member states, regional and sub-regional organizations are important providers of such capacity, one example of this is the Civilian Dimension of the African Standby Force.

The Consultation brought together Senior Level Officials from the UN, AU, African Member States, representatives of the Regional Economic Communities as well as regional training Centres.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the needs and challenges of countries and to develop a flexible framework for interaction with a diversified civilian pool of trained civilian from the global south and among women.

For more information please contact Mr Gustavo Barros de Carvalho, Programmes Analyst, at gustavo@accord.org.za.