African Standby Capacity (ASC)

In order to assist a host country’s transition from conflict to sustainable peace, multidimensional peace operation has to cover a variety of tasks that go beyond the mandate of deployed troops, but rather require specific expertise that can be found in civilian functions. Their fields of application include demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR), security sector reform (SSR), law and order, human rights, elections and capacity building to name just a few.

Therefore, the African Union Commission (AUC), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs) regularly recruit and deploy a range of civilian personnel for a broad spectrum of peace and security operations across the African continent. In particular, these organizations undertake conflict prevention initiatives, mediation missions, deploy multi-dimensional peace support operations and conduct post-conflict reconstruction and development needs assessments, among other forms of engagement. This has necessitated the development of a trained and dedicated pool of experts for deployment, and the management of deployments in a more effective and efficient manner, to ensure that the AUC and the RECs and RMs can rapidly recruit and deploy the needed personnel for their operations.

Behind this background, the AUC, RECs and RMs have established the African Standby Capacity (ASC), which is coordinated by the AUC at continental level, and it is jointly managed by the AUC and the RECs and RMs.

The ASC helps identify, select, train, recruit and deploy relevant civilian personnel in order to make the right person available at the right time and at the right place for African Peace and Security Operations. 

If you are interested in joining the roster, the first step is to register. Please contact your respective focal point to get further information.