Supporting the AU’s efforts in Building a Pool of Ready-to-Deploy Civilian Experts

Through the TfP Programme, ACCORD and the AUC conducted an Integrated Human Resources (HR) and African Standby Capacity (ASC) Database Training for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Roster Focal Points from 9 – 12 April 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana. This capacity development activity builds on the outcomes of the 11th ASC Coordination Meeting held in Kampala in June 2023, in response to a request from the SADC Secretariat to train the Roster Focal Points (RFPs) and HR Focal Points (HRFPs) on the ASC Roster recruitment process and the management of the ASC database.

From left: Keletso Ramahobo, Recruitment Officer, SADC Secretariat | Oline Bolaane, Assistant Recruitment Officer, SADC Secretariat | Faith Daniel, Mission Planning and Support Officer, SAMIM

The ability of RFPs and HRFPs to manage the ASC Roster is crucial, especially after the recent deployments to the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The mission area requires the deployment of trained civilians who are part of the civilian component of the ASF, and are therefore recruited from the ASC Roster. This aligns with the decision of the 10th Ordinary Meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety and Security (STCDSS), which directed the AUC and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) to use the ASC Roster as the first option for recruitment and deployment of civilian personnel in Peace Support Operations (PSOs). Three RFPs and HRFPs received training that linked the rostering workflows of the HR and Database Components of the ASC. They also had the opportunity to exercise their rostering tasks within and outside the database, which remains the primary IT tool for effective management of the roster.

The TfP Programme continues to support the AU’s concerted efforts towards building a pool of ready-to-deploy civilian experts.

Testimonial from one of the participants