The Sahel Peace and Security Seminar (Sahel region from a peace and security perspective), organised by the Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) in cooperation with the French Ministry of Armed Forces, was conducted successfully between the 19th and 20th of April at Jable Castle in Slovenia.
With 28 participants in attendance, the seminar delved into various critical topics related to the Sahel region, including its historical and geopolitical aspects, security challenges for Europe, conflict resolution, development as a security issue, and challenges of Sahel cooperation between the Sahel countries and Europe.
The seminar provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the complex challenges faced by the Sahel region and emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates security, development, governance, and cooperation efforts. Participants engaged in thought-provoking sessions, including a review of the EU integrated strategy for the Sahel, a French approach to the Sahel region with a focus on two key countries by 2034, and the future of conflict resolution in the Sahel. The seminar concluded with a comprehensive overview of the discussions and key takeaways. It highlighted the significance of regional and international cooperation, as well as the involvement of local and regional actors, in addressing the multifaceted issues in the Sahel region.
In conclusion, the seminar on the Sahel region organised by the POTC and the French Ministry of Armed Forces was a success as it provided a valuable forum for participants to engage in meaningful discussions on various critical topics and fostered a greater understanding of the peace and security challenges in the Sahel region. The seminar’s outcomes will undoubtedly contribute to ongoing efforts in addressing the complex issues facing the Sahel region and promote peace and security in the region.
For the first time, government communicators from Bulgaria are attending the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE) digital strategic communication training, which will take place next week, from the 30th to the 31st of January 2023, in Sofia. The event will bring together communicators from various ministries, agencies, and other state institutions.
The main focus of this in-country training is the conceptualization, development and implementation of digital strategic communication practices and campaigns identified as necessary together with the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. Besides that, individual consultations will be offered to the participants in the following days to discuss specific communication items.
Since 2017 CEP and the U.S. Department of State have been conducting a digital diplomacy project titled European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE), an intergovernmental network of government communicators committed to increasing members’ collective capacities to operate within the digital information space more effectively. A fundamental offering of this network is hands-on government-to-government digital strategic communications guidance, training, and mentorship.
The traditional end-of-the-year video of EUCTI Training Highlights is here!
Since the beginning of the project back in 2021, the EUCTI Consortium, led by the EUCTI Secretariat located at the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), implemented 16 training courses and two activities focusing on training institutions from third countries. Eight project partners implemented training activities in seven countries – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Kosovo, Mali, Niger, Somalia, and Ukraine.
The partners and subject matter experts who helped deliver the training invested 374 hours into training altogether 311 participants from 41 different countries. The gender balance of our participants improved in 2022 compared to 2021. Last year the EUCTI Consortium was able to train 127 women (41 %) and 182 men (59 %) (among those who identified as such).
Check out the video below to learn more!
CEP Activities within the Consortium
During the past two years, CEP delivered five training courses: two two-part Digital Communications training courses, one in Kosovo and one in Georgia, and one Protection of Civilians training adjusted to the needs of the staff of the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine). Those five courses were attended by 81 participants altogether, who followed 91 hours of training.
With one year until the end of the project left, the Consortium is well on its way to reaching the set goals, among them to deliver up to 27 training courses and three activities focusing on training institutions from third countries.
CEP is happy to inform the readers that we will be able to contribute to reaching this goal in 2023 as well.
POTC’s Work Programme for 2023 has arrived and it is filled with trainings, courses and seminars that will enhance peace operations capacities in our region.
All in all, we aim to deliver 11 diverse activities. Some are new such as the Climate Change, Peace and Security Pilot Training, while others are Work Programme musts such as the Gender Equality Training. Check out the whole list of planned activities for 2023 below:
Protection of Civilians Training
Disruptive Military Technologies Training
International Humanitarian Law – Module II
African Security and Defence Architecture Seminar
Engagement with the Local Community – Pilot Training
Stabilization and Reconstruction II
Training on Trafficking of Human Beings – International Operations and Missions Context – Train the Trainer (ToT)
Gender Equality
HEAT Slovenia – Hostile Environment Awareness Training
Climate Change, Peace and Security – Pilot Training
Basic training for Civilian experts
POTC aims to deliver valuable skills and knowledge with a diverse course/training schedule that will ensure a more peaceful and secure international environment.
