Induction Training of ACCORD as new implementation partner of the African Standby Capacity
From 26 – 28 October 2020, the Centre for International Peace Operations (ZIF) facilitated a training for the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) as the new implementation partner of the African Standby Capacity. The purpose of the training was to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities from ZIF to ACCORD during the transition period which will end mid-2021, and to ensure that ACCORD will successively assume the complex roles and responsibilities as an implementation partner of the ASC.
Recognizing the increasing need for civilian expertise in the Peace Support Operations, in 2008, the African Union Commission took a decision to develop a continental stand-by roster for the African Standby Force in order to identify, pre-select and retain a pool of experienced and trained civilian personnel for rapid deployment. Extensive planning began in 2010 under the auspices of the AUC Peace and Security Department, in close cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and ZIF, followed by a conceptualization and implementation phase from 2012 onwards. In 2015, the ASC roster was inaugurated. The ASC is part of the Civilian Dimension of the ASF, which is a critical element of the African Peace and Security Architecture.
In order to support the operationalization of the ASC, ZIF was tasked in 2012 to provide ongoing client services to the AUC and its partners, covering, among others, advisory work and project management support on human resources management, rostering, capacity building, policy development and technical implementation of the roster infrastructure, including a personnel database. The roster serves the deployment needs of the AUC as well as its participating Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms into peace operations.
ZIF will be phasing out as technical implementation partner of the ASC by mid-2021 and ACCORD will continue its support to the ASC through the Training for Peace Programme.