30. 5. 2022 | EUCTI, POTC, PR
Between 23 and 26 May 2022 Centre for European Perspective (CEP) has successfully implemented a four-day online training on Protection of Civilians for EUAM Ukraine in coordination with the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) project.
The course was conducted by Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC), situated at CEP premises. POTC already delivered a Protection of Civilians (PoC) training in April, hence the training targeting EUAM Ukraine needed only a slight adjustment to be able to support the mission members in time of Russian aggression. It was attended by 21 participants, all member staff of EUAM Ukraine.
During those four days, eight trainers shared their knowledge and practical expertise on the topics such as basic principles, definitions, and constitutive elements of PoC, its legal framework, conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, the EU approach to PoC, and last but not least examples of good and bad PoC practices.
Interactive lessons, group work, and small-scale simulation exercises constituted only one part of the two-way learning process between participants and trainers. The second part was a two-way process of experience sharing during the whole training. Experts came from different backgrounds, but all had one thing in common: extensive practical experience in peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and PoC, and the willingness to share it with their trainees. This proved to be highly appreciated by the participants and a value-added to the training.
Participants pointed out the importance of understanding who a civilian is to be able to better protect them during times of hostilities and violence. They also appreciated discussing the sexual and gender-based violence during the times of an armed conflict, as some of them mentioned not enough attention is given to this topic.
CEP is proud to be a part of EUCTI and wishes participants – first and foremost – to remain safe and to be able to use gained knowledge to help conflict-affected people.
17. 5. 2022 | EUCTI, POTC, PR
Centre for European Perspective will, in the scope of the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) project, between 23 and 26 May 2022 implement Protection of Civilians (PoC) training. The training’s target audience is the staff of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). It is an adaptation of an already existing PoC training, implemented in April by the Peace Operations Training Centre (What is POTC?), coordinated by CEP.
Throughout this four-day online training, up to 25 participants will participate in theoretical and practical lessons from the field. Experienced trainers and experts will share their knowledge on PoC basics, historical developments in the field, PoC legal framework, contemporary challenges, and good practices within the mission environment.
Why PoC and why EUCTI? To get answers to these questions and learn more about the EUCTI click HERE and HERE.
4. 4. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
Last week Centre for European Perspective (CEP)’s digital communications team successfully conducted the 3-day Digital Communications in Civilian Crisis Management training in Georgia as a part of the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI). The second module of the training took place in a residential format, in Tbilisi. After last year’s online first module both trainers and participants enjoyed live sessions and face-to-face feedback.
Participants, 11 of them, came from European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and from the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia. With the help of top experts in the field, they honed their skills in smartphone videography and photography, storytelling, and building infographics. They strengthened their rhetoric skills and learned what it takes to work in the era of influencer marketing. Last but not least, they familiarized themselves with the open-source tools for information verification.
Participants, or digital communicators as they can be called now, described the training as very useful and relevant. Practical elements such as hands-on work with modern video and photo equipment, interactive workshops, and the final simulation contributed greatly to the success of the training.
We remain optimistic that this training will inspire the participants to explore the world around them and share their findings with the rest of us. We wish to thank the participants and experts, who worked tirelessly alongside us for their dedication and valuable input throughout the course.
24. 3. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
Between 30 March and 1 April 2022 CEP will conduct the second module of the Digital Communications in Civilian Crisis Management training within the scope of the EU Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI). The module will be carried out in a residential format in Georgia. It is designed for the communication experts working in EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia), but also in other international organizations working in the field.
CEP has already delivered the first module of the training in November 2021 in an online format due to the Covid-19 restrictions. According to the participants and trainers, it was a great success. The 3-day long second module, finally happening in person, will strengthen the participants’ already gained knowledge and skills and strive to put them into practice.
Lead experts and practitioners in the field of (digital) communication will among other topics talk about the importance of infographics, visual storytelling, and information verification. There will of course be time for a rhetoric session as well. All this nowadays invaluable knowledge will be tested throughout the training course while participants can also look forward to the grand finale – a simulation exercise.
(Digital) communication, especially in the civilian crisis management environment, can significantly increase credibility, transparency, public support, and trust in the mission. Consequently, this leads to a higher rate of successfully achieved mission mandates.
CEP is proud to be able to contribute to and support the EUCTI project by delivering tailor-made training based on the needs of in-mission personnel.
14. 3. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
Last week, on 10 March, European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI) Secretariat, located at CEP premises at Jable Castle, hosted the first in-person partner meeting. Representatives from seven partner organizations and a representative of EU structures joined us at Jable for a day of intense discussions on the past, present and future of the project activities.
Besides CEP, representatives of ASPR, Clingendael, CMC and ZIF contributed to the discussion in-person. Representatives of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and Egmont Institute joined the discussion remotely. The Consortium was also joined by one of its steering group members, the representative of European External Action Service, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI.2).
Head of EUCTI Secretariat, Markko Kallonen, and Head of Peace and Security Programme at CEP, Nina Čepon, opened the meeting. Busy agenda included project updates from partners, working groups developments, brainstorming ideas for 3rd country activities, goals and plans for 2022 training delivery and discussion on the future of the project. In the end many open questions were balanced out by new ideas for the visibility and broadened scope of our project. But most importantly by the reignited commitment of all partners to the success of the project and wish to continue with the important work.
We at CEP are already looking forward to the next partner meeting. Until then we will continue with our activities, with the first one happening soon, in the end of March. More will follow!
9. 3. 2022 | EUCTI, PR
The Centre for European Perspective (CEP) is proud to host the Secretariat of the European Union Civilian Training Initiative (EUCTI). EUCTI is a three-year long project (2021-2023) which is co-funded by the European Union, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI.2), instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, Conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and crisis preparedness component.
EUCTI’s main objective is to provide need-based training courses for experts working in international organisations and missions active in the field of civilian crisis management worldwide. Course topics vary and aim at enhancing knowledge and skills of the deployed personnel. This, in turn, will help the organisations in delivering their mandates which, ultimately, will improve the living conditions of the conflict-affected people.
During the first project year, we dedicated time to develop concepts and frameworks to allow sound planning of the upcoming training activities (e.g., on evaluation and on methodology and standardization) in cooperation with seven other EUCTI partners. Furthermore, EUCTI contacted several important stakeholders in the field of civilian crisis management (all EU CSDP missions, EU Delegations, UN, AU and OSCE headquarters and several related missions to name some). EUCTI successfully delivered five training courses; 57 participants (32 females and 25 males) from 22 countries benefited directly from our activities. On top of that, we believe that many other people have indirectly gained new knowledge and expertise related to civilian crisis management thanks to EUCTI.
Check out the video below for the highlights of our work in 2021!
