The Southern African Development Community Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (SADC RPTC) held a five-day workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe, to develop standardised curricula for Peace Support Operations (PSO) courses. The workshop marked a significant step toward strengthening regional capacity for effective peace operations.
The workshop follows a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) conducted between October 2022 and February 2023, which identified critical gaps and training priorities at both national and regional levels. The findings underscored the need for responsive, modern training, aligned with the evolving demands of global peace operations.
In collaboration with key institutes, including ACCORD, the session brought together subject matter experts to design curricula that are contextualised, standardised, and structured. ACCORD contributed its expertise to share knowledge on Dialogue, Negotiation, and Mediation, as well as the essential skills for PSO personnel operating in complex environments.
The primary aim of the workshop was to ensure that the training content is comprehensive, relevant, and based on adult learning principles, allowing military, police, civilian, and correctional components of the African Standby Force (ASF) to plan, manage, and execute peace operations effectively in accordance with international standards and mandates.
This effort reinforces SADC’s commitment to maintaining a strong standby arrangement capable of rapid deployment when needed, thereby strengthening the African Standby Force, regional peace, and security.
