16 Jul Report of the fifteen (15) years of Senior Mission Leadership Training in Africa, Lessons and Experiences

Posted at 15:04h in Policy Dialogues by
 

Executive Summary


In 2019, Member Institutions (MIs) of the African Peace Support Trainers Association (APSTA), and other Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs), decided to take stock of lessons and experiences from the delivery of the Regional Senior Mission Leadership Course (RSMLC) over the past fifteen years. In collaboration with MIs, RECs/RMs and in consultation with the AU PSOD, APSTA Secretariat – supported by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – embarked on the Project with the purpose to :

  • Identify, share and document experiences and lessons on the delivery of Regional Senior Mission Leadership Training in Africa by Training Centres of Excellence ;
  • Utilize lessons and experiences to enhance SML training, education and learning by facilitating a common base of knowledge, skills and attitudes development ;
  • Adapt RSML training to mission requirements in all contexts, including in epidemics or pandemics, towards attainment of the 4th Aspiration of AU Agenda 2063.


Following a baseline survey that served to solicit views on content and aspects crucial for RSML leadership, a 3-day (24th, 25th and 27th Nov 2020) videoconference was held where 30 experts dissected the curriculum of the RSML course and offered recommendations on way forward for APSTA, TCEs and the AU. The recommendations were subsequently validated.

The recommendations point to a move away from the excessively theoretical and academic nature of the current content and methodology of delivery. This entails the explicit reflection of the new operational environments facing the leadership teams. The Experts also stressed the value of training joint analysis, planning and incorporating leadership behaviour during the training. Regarding the delivery of the course, Experts strongly recommended that the face-to-face component remains at two weeks, but otherwise moves towards a more interactive, dynamic and operationally oriented approach. It is imperative to align with training materials and key messages developed by UN and the AU while safeguarding continuity by renewing the partnership with UNITAR to enable the cooperation necessary to initiate, maintain and finalize the process of piloting a re-calibrated RSML.

In view of the foregoing, and as next steps for the Project, it is further recommended that there be a new phase of the project to constitute a standing RSML Experts’ Working Group for Africa coordinated by APSTA and UNITAR, with the task to :

  • Draft recalibrated RSML Modules, review the Carana exercise and design a pilot RSML in collaboration with AU PSOD and MIs of APSTA ;
  • Provide supporting documents to Course Directors, Mentors and Facilitators at the MIs and TCEs and develop a comprehensive database of Experts and Resources for RSML in Africa, available to MIs, TCEs and RECs/RMs, partners, etc ;
  • Widen the basis for participation in RSML Courses to adequately reflect the complexities of contemporary mission environments.