UN Entebbe base's virtual training hub to strengthen peacekeeping

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The United Nations Academy for Peace in liaison with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) commissioned the first virtual instructor-led training facility at the UN base in Entebbe, Wakiso District. 

Estimated at sh2.8b (€500,000 euros), the hi-tech facility is expected to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations (UN) in mounting and sustaining peace-keeping operations by enhancing operational performance, safety and security of peace-keepers. 

Paulin Djomo, the director for the UN regional service centre in Entebbe, said the base serves over 16,000 staff members in peacekeeping and political offices across Africa. 

He thus noted that virtual instructor-led training creates a synchronous remote learning environment where participants can collaborate and learn in real time together. 

"The centre is a modern approach to training where a facilitator utilises online platforms to deliver interactive and engaging training sessions," he explained. 

The UN centre in Entebbe is a training hub for all UN peace operations and missions in Africa. 

Ambassador Philip Odida, the acting director for regional and international political affairs in Uganda's ministry of foreign affairs. (All Photos by Julius Luwemba)

Sherri Aker, the deputy dean of NATO in charge of the information and communication, underscored the newly commissioned facility's importance and relevance, saying it enables tracking and measurement of success, reduces cost and provides accessibility to subject matter experts. 

"The overall objective is that the United Nations Academy for Peace Operations will have a strengthened instructor corps, using tailored, up-to-date curricula, to train ICT officers from UN troop and police contributing nations," she expressed. 

Ambassador Philip Odida, the acting director for regional and international political affairs in Uganda's foreign affairs ministry, expressed gratitude for the new developments at the UN base in Entebbe. 

"It has evolved from its initial form as a pilot centre for shared services under the global field support strategy to a premium client-oriented fully-fledged client service centre that provides and stands for the needs of 62% of all United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions worldwide," he noted. 

He appealed for a long-term commitment that focuses not only on immediate training of the region's peacekeepers but also works towards the overall sustainability of the initiative. 

"Also by building and enlarging internal capacities by promoting self-sufficiency and aligning with the broader UN strategies for digital transformation and peacekeeping," he stated. 

NATO's involvement in the UN peacekeeping training is part of the defence and related security capacity-building package to enhance peacekeepers' operational performance and safety. 

The virtual instructor-led training centre was commissioned by NATO and the UN's command, control, communication and computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance academy for peace operations. 

It is expected to go a long way in saving the cost of training peacekeepers in the region.