From 17-29 June 2024, UNOAU, in collaboration with the British Peace Support Team, supported ECOWAS in the development and delivery of a Military Pre-Deployment Training of Trainers Course in Accra, Ghana. The purpose of the training was to prepare the ECOWAS Standby Force to act as first responders to regional conflicts, considering the increasing diversification and complexity of Peace Support Operations (PSO) mandates, underscored by the shift from traditional to complex multidimensional PSOs. Additionally, it was recognised that a harmonised, standardised Military Pre-Deployment Training is critical for maintaining and improving the Full Operational Capability of the ECOWAS Standby Force, including the successful conduct of rapid and preventive deployments.

The Training of Trainers programme provided a shared understanding of the fundamentals of AU PSOs, with a deliberate orientation and focus on the military component, and covered a wide range of topics, including cross-cutting themes such as Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Protection of Civilians, Human Rights, and Environmental Protection. The participants were very senior Military Officers from countries within the ECOWAS Region. Facilitators for the programme were from UNOAU and the AU Peace Support Operations Division. It is expected that, with the newly acquired knowledge and skills of the 27 participants, they will roll out the programme in their respective countries to prepare TCCs for deployment into ECOWAS PSOs.