Workshop for civilian peacekeepers opens on Wednesday

Accra, June 3, GNA - The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Teshie, in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, would hold a Training Needs Analysis Workshop for civilian peacekeepers, from June 8 to June10.

The Royal Norwegian Government is sponsoring the workshop under "The Training for Peace in Africa Programme", a statement from the Centre said on Friday.

It said the workshop would bring together 20 participants, who had been closely involved in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and UN peace operations in West Africa.

They would include senior representatives from the ECOWAS Secretariat, United Nations Headquarters and UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and C=F4te d'Ivoire.

The statement said the workshop would discuss the requirements for the selection, testing and training of West African civilians, who would serve at the professional staff level in future missions mandated by ECOWAS, the UN, or the African Union.

The workshop aims to produce guidelines for the selection and testing of civilian personnel, and the outline of a training plan that would enhance the performance of West Africans, who would be selected for employment in peace support operations.