Kofi Ampeah Woode
With an aim of deepening the impact of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) prestigious Training Centre of Excellence (TCE), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has inaugurated a new Strategic Plan running from 2024 to 2028, to further establish the Centre as the ‘go to’ place on African peace and security.
The Centre outdoored its latest Five Year Strategic Plan at the SCHRODDER HALL, Teshie, on Thursday 25 April, 2024, with a host of stakeholders ranging from Diplomats, through technocrats to Armed Forces Officers representing Ghana, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Austria, France, Switzerland, Nigeria, and non-governmental-organizations.
Delivering the welcome address, the Commandant, KAIPTC –Major General (Maj Gen) Richard Addo Gyane, recalled the early years of the TCE as one established by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in 1998, to share its rich experience in peacekeeping with others in the Sub-Region and beyond, operationalizing its first training course in 2004.
Forecasting the next five years, General Gyane said the period will undoubtedly present numerous challenges, as the African continent and the world face geopolitical tensions, religious and ethnic conflicts, climate change, governance deficits and violent extremism, among others.
The KAIPTC, he continued, recognizes the urgency of addressing these issues and strives to be at the forefront of evolving peacebuilding strategies, that reflect a comprehensive and innovative approach, and encompasses training, research, education, policy development and advocacy.
To achieve these goals, KAIPTC has laid out a demand driven strategic framework centered around pillars like; training and capacity development, evidence based-research, education and knowledge generation, policy development and advocacy, partnerships and collaboration, governance improvement, and resource mobilization, Maj Gen RA Gyane said.
Focusing on expanding and adapting its training modules to meet emerging threats and trends, as well as specific needs and challenges faced by its target audience, the KAIPTC aims to generate cutting-edge research and analysis on emerging peace and security challenges, informing policy-making processes at both the national, regional, and international levels.
With its new strategic objectives, KAIPTC’s focus now cover the following areas: 1) Peace Operations; 2) Stabilization and Peacebuilding; 3) Governance, Leadership and Security; 4) Technology and Peace; 5) Women, Youth, Peace and Security; 6) Climate and Environmental Security; 7) Strengthening partnership with Multilateral Institutions and Regional Organizations; and 8) Improving institutional and financial sustainability.
Under the pillar of training, it shall continue to provide high-quality and innovative training programs for military, police, and civilian personnel deployed in peacekeeping missions, and others generally involved in peace and security, leadership and governance issues, among others.
With the new Strategic Plan, Maj Gen RA Gyane said, the KAIPTC would strengthen internal governance systems and resource mobilization, which he cited as pivotal in ensuring successful implementation, recognizing that strong internal structures, a healthy and productive workforce, institutional, financial and technical resources, are essential to driving work forward and expanding reach.
Assuring that the plan is to better train, educate and equip Africans, shape public opinion and policy, create and deepen awareness on peace and security issues and influence policy in the field, the Commandant pledged KAIPTC’s commitment to generating knowledge, and providing evidence-based policies, to inform African governments and international organizations, in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace.
Via a presentation by the Director, Policy, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Development (PPMED) – Ms Horname Noagbesenu, KAIPTC envisions remaining the leading and preferred international Centre for training, education, research, and policy advocacy focused on ensuring a peaceful and secure Africa.
KAIPTC will run with a mission to provide globally recognized and bespoke capacity for all actors on African peace and security through training, education, research, and policy dialogues to foster peace and stability in Africa.
Strategic Priorities include, to: 1) enhance the capacities of ECOWAS, AU, and UN and their relevant structures to perform their mandates in ensuring good governance, peace and security in Africa; 2) leverage evidence-based research to design and deliver training, capacity building, post graduate academic programs and policy support that address governance and leadership, peace and security gaps in Africa;
3) Enhance gender equity and social inclusion with a focus on women and youth in fostering peace, stability, and development in Africa; 4) enhance the financial and institutional sustainability of KAIPTC through effective partnerships and innovative programs; 5) strengthen strategic partnerships and networking for visibility to advance peace and security in Africa.
The Plan has seven Thematic Areas, being; i) Peace Operations, Stabilization and Peacebuilding; ii) Governance, Leadership and Conflict Prevention; iii) Technology in Peace and Security; iv) Women, Youth, Peace and Security; v) Climate and Environmental Security; vi) Strengthening partnerships with Multilateral Institutions and Regional Arrangements; and vii) Enhancing Institutional and Financial Sustainability.
An Implementation Plan Arrangement has the following: a) Develop innovative training courses and expand the academic programs to meet the needs on the market; b) Undertake evidence-based research to inform training, education and utilize the findings to inform policy change on the continent, c) Executive Management Committee to utilize market or business orientation to manage the Centre.
It includes d) Operationalizing the Business Development and Consultancy Unit; e) Developing a Strategic Human Resource Framework for KAIPTC; f) Benchmarking of output and outcome indicators for Effective Monitoring & Evaluation; g) Enhance environmental sustainability as a Centre; h) Build on digital infrastructure and improve the Centre’s capacity for digitalization; and i) Build and utilize Alumni Network and strengthen cooperation with donors, partners and stakeholders.
In support of the drive, the Political Officer at the German Embassy, Accra – Ms Pauline Okkens said KAIPTC is a prime example for commitment to regional security cooperation, and in the light of Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy, she welcomes the focus on gender and youth empowerment, of the Plan.
She also expressed appreciation of the fact that, the Plan features ‘Climate and Environmental Security’ as a thematic area and focus for the upcoming years, considering that challenges of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly relevant to security policy.
Present included Her Excellency (HE) Simon Giger – Swiss Ambassador to Ghana; HE Selma Ashipala-Musavyi – the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana; Maj Gen Matthew Essien – Commandant, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College;
Others were the Acting Commandant, Ghana Military Academy – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Charles Agyemang-Prempeh; Air Commodore Asante – Deputy Commandant, National College of Defence Studies; Brig Gen Dzandu-Hedidor – Director-General, Training; Morten Vildbrad Kristiansen – Officer for Partnership, Danish Embassy.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
