India & US kick start 'train-the-trainer' plan for African troops
United Nations Peacekeeping in India (CUNPK) has initiated it firsts UN Peacekeeping Course for its African Partner.
In Short
- UN Peacekeeping in India initiates peacekeeping course for African troops.
- Programme intended for capacity-building training for troops and trainers.
- Inaugural session chaired by MoS for External Affairs MJ Akbar.
The New Delhi-based Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in India (CUNPK) initiated its first United Nations Peacekeeping Course for African Partners (UNPCAP-01), a three-week-long Indo-US initiative.The effort, one of the many by India, is meant as a capacity-building programme for troops and trainers African nations which contribute troops for UN peace keeping operations.
The training will span operational and logistical matters, humanitarian issues, thematic topics, blackboard and table top exercises and mission briefs. The course is also targeted to assist the student officers to further train officers in their respective countries on nuances of peacekeeping. Indian team of instructors will be assisted by the US in this event.
PROGRAMME BEGAN ON JULY 25
The programme which began on July 25 in New Delhi saw the inaugural session being chaired by MJ Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs. Lt Gen MMS Rai, Vice Chief of Army Staff welcomed the participants from African countries and stated that Indian Army had acquired vast experience through decades of participation of Indian peacekeepers in UN Peace Keeping Operations (UNPKO).
He also brought out that centre had trained 900 officers from 92 countries till date. Other officials from Ministry of External Affairs, UN were present and so was the US Ambassador to India and the UN Resident Coordinator in India. While India is one of the largest Troop Contributing Country (TCC), US is the largest Fund Contributing Country (FCC) to the UN.
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