At a time of increasing international political tension and division, many parts of the world are challenged by conflicts increasingly fuelled by organized crime, illicit networks, terrorism, natural resource diversion, environmental degradation, and corruption. Multi-dimensional peace operations are today expected to confront a broad range of interrelated and mutually reinforcing challenges to peace, security, and development. Contemporary missions are mandated to address situations of utmost complexity, often in high-risk environments where there is very little if any peace to keep.

While concerted efforts have been made to adapt peace operation approaches and strategies to accommodate the changing security landscape, adaptation is not keeping pace. As a result, mandates have become lengthier and more detailed, and in the process less manageable and more difficult to accomplish. The prominence of new bilateral and regional actors has provided opportunities, but also a new dimension of complexity. The need to collaborate and coordinate has become ever more critical.

In these challenging times, what are the implications for tomorrow's preparation and training for peace operations? What are the emerging needs and requirements? What are the concepts, methodologies, and capacities? How can we strengthen peace operations and the women and men in the field doing their utmost for the people they have been sent to protect, support, and empower?

The EAPTC brought together a broad range of expertise and outlooks, including national, regional, and international practitioners, academics, and other key stakeholders from Europe and beyond to address these challenges. This year’s EAPTC seminar focused on selected areas in which innovation is currently playing a central part and holds promise for increased effectiveness and better outcomes of international interventions. Seeking to make optimal use of all human resources and to capitalise on new thinking across industries, the seminar was dedicated to exploring forward-looking solutions suitable for meeting the challenges of tomorrow.

Identified as one of the most crucial factors in the success or failure of peace operations is leadership (High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations – HIPPO) or rather the lack of it. The seminar explored the gaps in and requirements for senior leadership preparation and training in terms of concepts, methodologies, and pedagogy. What types of methodologies for adult learning are most applicable for the training of future leaders? How can new scenario-based leadership training strengthen mission leadership and what should it look like and contain? What methodologies are most appropriate to ensure gender-sensitive training goals are effectively met?

Furthermore, topics such as the Protection of Civilians (POC), Safety and Security Crises, Security Sector Reform, Responsive Governance in Building Sustainable Results, Managing Information in Challenging Environments and Risks of Small Arms and Ammunition Loss were addressed.

In conclusion, the 6th Annual Seminar of the EAPTC shared perspectives, encouraged dialogue and debate, and facilitated a collective discussion on what in training terms could be done practically to make the most of innovation and leadership development to improve the performance and professionalism of peace operations.

For more information please visit: https://www.gcsp.ch/News-Knowledge/News/6th-Annual-European-Association-of-Peace-Operations-Training-Centre-s-EAPTC-held-in-Geneva