Nairobi – The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), are making comprehensive updates to the AU-UN Mandatory Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) package for uniformed personnel deploying to Somalia.

“We were able to review all the modules and found several areas which need to be updated. The relevance of this particular review is that we have taken on board the Transition Plan to ensure it is reflected in the modules to be able to provide more information to the commanders, and subsequently the soldiers, as they deploy,” explained Mr. .

“We need to ensure peacekeeping is fit for purpose in terms of performance, accountability, training and equipment,” noted Lisa Filipetto, the Head of UNSOS.

Ms. emphasized the need for compliance with the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, which she stressed was a mandatory requirement for UNSOS’s logistical support package to AMISOM.. “It is part of the mandate and that is why we have to be absolutely confident, that we are delivering on it and one of the ways, we can show others that we are delivering on it, is the training aspect,” she said, during the official opening of the three-day workshop.

Aspects of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy to trainees as part of the pre-deployment training. Other courses offered include a brief on Somalia’s political history and conflict; Somalia’s culture; International Humanitarian Law; Human Rights; Child Protection in Peace Support Operations; Protection of Civilians; Health, Safety and the Environment; and Media and Communication.

“We have listened to the trainers from the capitals and they have indicated what has worked very well for them and what we need to do to strengthen the existing arrangement,” remarked Kareem Adebayo, AMISOM’s Head of Protection, Human Rights and Gender Cluster.

A draft mission-specific PDT manual will be drafted and UNSOS will spearhead a Training Of Trainer refresher , targeting selected trainers – to enable the expansion of a pool of trainers at the T/PCC level.

Thirty participants representing the African Union, AMISOM, Troop and Police Contributing Countries, the British Peace Support Team (East Africa), US Department of , UNOAU, UNSOM and UNSOS attended the workshop.

Ms. emphasized the need for compliance with the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, which she stressed was a mandatory requirement for UNSOS’s logistical support package to AMISOM.

“It is part of the mandate and that is why we have to be absolutely confident, that we are delivering on it and one of the ways, we can show others that we are delivering on it, is the training aspect,” she said, during the official opening of the three-day workshop.

Aspects of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy to trainees as part of the pre-deployment training. Other courses offered include a brief on Somalia’s political history and conflict; Somalia’s culture; International Humanitarian Law; Human Rights; Child Protection in Peace Support Operations; Protection of Civilians; Health, Safety and the Environment; and Media and Communication.

“We have listened to the trainers from the capitals and they have indicated what has worked very well for them and what we need to do to strengthen the existing arrangement,” remarked Kareem Adebayo, AMISOM’s Head of Protection, Human Rights and Gender Cluster.

The curriculum review will take part in stages and will appraise a draft mission-specific PDT manual, intended to support T/PCC PDTs. At a later date, UNSOS will spearhead a TOT refresher , targeting selected trainers – to enable the expansion of a pool of trainers at the T/PCC level.

"We are confident that the outputs of this workshop will help make our mission more relevant, make our training(s) more impactful,” said Kenneth Abotsi, African Union’s Chief of Training Cell of the Capacity Development Unit.

Thirty participants representing the African Union, AMISOM, Troop and Police Contributing Countries, the British Peace Support Team (East Africa), US Department of, UNOAU, UNSOM and UNSOS attended the workshop.