The African Union Commission (AUC) held the 15th African Standby Force (ASF) Training Implementation Workshop (TIW) in Cairo, Egypt from 1 – 3 November 2023. Hosted by the Egyptian Peacekeeping Operations Training Center (EPOTC), the annual workshop was attended by members of the AUC, ACCORD, AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), Training Centres of Excellence and Training Institutions (TCEs/TIs), and AU mandated operations.
With the ASF Training Directives (2021-2023) in its final year of review, the 15th ASF TIW took stock of the implementation of the Training Directives, identifying challenges and gaps in implementing them and exploring possible ways of enhancing implementation in the next Training Directives. The workshop further reviewed the draft AU Peace Support Operations (PSOs) Training Policy to ensure its coherence with the current and emerging threats.
The theme of the workshop, “Implementing Compliance and Accountability in AU PSOs – Challenges and Opportunities” allowed the new AU Compliance Framework (AUCF) project to present to the delegates its objectives and the work it has done in enhancing the capabilities and capacities of PSOs. Noting that the RECs/RMs and TCEs/Tis are also responsible for the development of capabilities and capacities for PSOs, the TIW platform created spaces for the sharing of best practices and lessons learned in addressing compliance issues and contemporary security threats. As usual, the TIW also provided a platform for engagement for partner institutions on the harmonization of technical support for continental and regional ASF-related training activities.ACCORD provided technical support in partnership with the AU PSOD and EPOTC to organize the 15th ASF TIW. ACCORD through its Training for Peace (TfP) Programme remains committed to supporting the AU’s concerted efforts towards African peace and security.
