The Kofi Annan International Training Centre (KAIPTC)
From TrustAfrica wiki - African Regional Organizations
Kofi Annan International Training Centre (KAIPTC)
PMB CT 210 Cantonments
Accra - Ghana
Tel: + 233 (0)21 718 200
Fax: + 233 (0)21 718 201
Email: info@kaiptc.org
Website: http://www.kaiptc.org
Contact: Colonel George McGarr, OBE, Executive Director, George.McGarr@kaiptc.org
Description
1n 1998, building on Ghana’s four decades of experience and competence in peace support operations, the Ghana Ministry of Defense approved the establishment of an international peacekeeping training centre. The centre was envisaged to address, not only Ghana’s needs for training to meet the changing demands of complex peacekeeping, but also the requirements of the West African sub-region and the continent. The Centre was named after then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in recognition of his contributions to world peace and security.
The Center’s work focuses on three areas Peacekeeping Studies, Training and Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution. KAIPTC seeks to provide mission oriented training at the operational level in Peace Operations for selected participants prior to deployment into areas of operation. In addition to providing an operational focus that will link the basic tactical Peace Operations, training provided at Koulikoro in Mali under French sponsorship with the high-level strategic training provided at the War College in Nigeria.
In addition to the Peace Operation trainings, KAIPTC seeks to improve the ability of its participants to operate in multinational environments and to cooperate with contingents from other countries. KAIPTC also keeps participants abreast of the nature and complexities of contemporary inter- and intra-state conflicts. Lastly, KAIPTC conducts research into the various facets of peace operations.
The centre offers Ghanaian, regional and international participants the opportunity to examine specific peace operations issues at the operational level and to share their knowledge of the latest practices through conferences, discussions, lectures and computer assisted training exercises.
Track Record In its short history, the KAIPTC has gone a long way towards meeting its goal of developing into a regional centre of excellence where education, training and research on peace support operations are delivered to the highest academic and professional standards. To date, the Centre has run over 100 training courses or activities and trained over 2,500 individuals from over 90 countries.
KAIPTC has also collaborated on various anti-terrorism efforts. In September 2007 KAIPTC held the West Africa Internal Security Symposium, along with the US European Command, US Special Operations Command unit (SOCEUR) under EUCOM and the Joint Special Operations University. The theme of the symposium was ’Maintaining Internal Security through Countering Extremism‘ which sought to enable participating countries to work together to counter terrorism.
The center also works with local law enforcement officials. In September 2007, and in association with the International Training Program on Peacebuilding and Good Governance for African Civilian Personnel, University of Ghana, KAIPTC co-hosted the second Training Course for Law Enforcement Officers. KAIPTC believes that the role of law enforcement officers has become increasingly important in post-conflict reforms in recent years and has been confirmed by the growing number of law enforcement officers deployed in peace support operations and the increasing complexity of their tasks. This course provided participants with the necessary proficiency to operate effectively in peace keeping missions. The focus was on the operation of a mission mandate, protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law.
KAIPTC works closely with the West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI) and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), twice hosting the annual WAPI retreat, with support from the German Technical Cooperation-GTZ.
