The Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the African Union Commission (AUC) convened the African Standby Capacity (ASC) Core Group Meeting from 27–29 November 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana. The ASC Core Group is composed of the AUC, the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), and ACCORD, with ACCORD serving as the primary technical implementation partner for the ASC. The Core Group meets annually to review progress on the previous year’s activities, assess challenges, and strategise for the year ahead.
At the meeting, representatives from the AUC included the Head of Policy, Evaluation and Training, the Senior Human Resources Efficiency and System Coherence Officer, and the PSOD Communications Officer. The UNOAU was represented by its Training Officer, while ACCORD was represented by its Programme Officer and Media and Communications Officer.
This year’s meeting followed the 11th ASC Annual Coordination Meeting, held in July 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, where a number of key issues were identified. A significant challenge noted was the absence of specific Human Resources (HR) policy provisions tailored to Peace Support Operations (PSOs), particularly regarding recruitment processes. Although policies have been developed and approved, implementation has been slow. Furthermore, the lack of a comprehensive security policy for civilian deployments to PSOs remains a critical gap, especially given the high-risk environments in which they operate. Misalignment between HR processes and the rapid deployment needs of PSOs was also highlighted, underscoring the need for operational responsiveness in HR management.
In response to these noted challenges, the AUC’s Human Resources Management Directorate (HRMD) began revising the 2016 HR Guidelines, aiming to produce the Revised 2024 HR Guidelines. During the meeting, updates were shared on the progress and evolution of these guidelines, reflecting efforts to address gaps in recruitment and operational responsiveness for PSOs. The revised guidelines are expected to provide a more robust framework for aligning HR processes with the needs of the ASC Roster and the dynamic requirements of PSOs. The ASC Communications Strategy, developed in 2021, was also reviewed during the meeting. Discussions focused on identifying innovative ways to enhance the visibility of the ASC, particularly as a means to boost enrolment in the roster. Improved visibility was recognized as critical to attracting qualified civilian experts and ensuring the roster remains an effective tool for rapid deployment for PSOs. A significant highlight of the meeting was the planning for the 10th Anniversary of the ASC Roster, set to be celebrated in 2025. This milestone presents an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the roster over the past decade, celebrate its contributions to the Africa Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), and chart a path for its continued growth and impact in the future.
ACCORD continues to support the ASC through the Training for Peace (TfP) Programme, a flagship initiative funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
