ACCORD’s Training for Peace (TfP) Programme has been assisting the African Union Peace Support Operations Division (AU PSOD) with the development of the civilian dimension of the AU African Standby Force (ASF). Specifically the programme has assisted with the formulation of the project document entitled, ‘Draft Policy Framework of the Civilian Dimension of the ASF’.
This document serves to effectively set out the process for the operationalization of the civilian and police aspects of the ASF.
The project has entered into a crucial fourth phase concerned with developing an implementation plan for the civilian dimension of the ASF. To this effect, a Technical Experts Task Team Meeting will be convened from 11-13 April 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This meeting will lay the foundation for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the ‘Draft Policy Framework of the Civilian Dimension of the ASF’. A number of technical subject experts in the areas of policies and processes, human resources/recruitment, training, integrated logistical support, gender, conduct and discipline and AU Police will be brought together to advise the AU PSOD on the best way to implement the recommendations in these areas.
As a key outcome to the Technical Experts Task Team Meeting, the PSOD with the support of ACCORD’s TfP Programme will prepare a report from the meeting and consolidate the various action plans produced by the expert groups into an overall ASF Civilian Dimension Implementation Plan.
