CCCPA participated in the African Union (AU) training titled “Pilot Training on the revised AU curriculum on Protection of Civilians in Peace Support Operations”, held from 26th to 30th August, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The training was organized by the African Union’s Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), and hosted by the Nigerian National Defense College (NDC). The Centre was represented by Rodayna Said from the Peace Operations’ program.

The pilot training focused primarily on the revised 2023 AU Policy on the Protection of Civilians (PoC) in AU Peace Support Operations (PSOs) and addressed the emerging PoC needs in AU PSOs, delving into participants’ experience to draw lessons learned and best practices, arising from the evolving conflict dynamics.

The training was held against a growing momentum to deploy AU-led PSOs, in light of the recent adoption of UNSCR 2719 on the financing of such operations through UN assessed contributions.

The pilot training shed light on a myriad of topics ranging from the context of AU-led PSOs, and the imperative for protecting civilians, to addressing PoC in UN peacekeeping operations, as well as AU-led PSOs, highlighting the AU strategy for implementing the PoC policy aforementioned, encompassing child protection and gender considerations. The training emphasized the interlinkages between humanitarian negotiations and PoC, as well as the importance of strategic communication in implementing the mandate, all while highlighting the relevance of PoC in post conflict reconstruction and development, in security sector reform and in elections in situations of armed conflicts.