CIMIC COURSES FOR ASIAN, AFRICAN PEACEKEEPERS IN PORT DICKSON

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Peacekeeping Training
Centre in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, has strengthened its mandate for 26
Asian and African peacekeepers, through the Inaugural five-day Civil-Military
Co-operation (CIMIC) course at the centre, starting Monday.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a statement Sunday said the
project, which allows Malaysia to share its expertise in peacekeeping with other
Asian and African countries, will welcome 26 peacekeepers from Bostwana, India,
Zimbabwe, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The course also aims to train trainers to understand the principles and
producers of civil-military coordination in UN peacekeeping missions around the
world.

The CIMIC courses focused on integrated peacekeeping missions, the essential
differences between humanitarian and peace building efforts, and the structure
and function of CIMIC in the UN system.

The statement said through the CIMIC courses, participants would build
their capabilities and knowledge on civil-military coordination, learning from
the insights and experiences of international experts.

"The Government of Japan will also be sending its expert, a Programme
Advisor of the Secretariat of the International Cooperation Headquarters of the
Cabinet Office, as an instructor for one of the key topics under the course of
UN humanitarian assistance.

"Topics selected for the training reflect not only current issues but trends
and developments that will shape the practice of CIMIC in peacekeeping efforts
in the future," the statement added.

Five courses will be held this year, comprising two Train-the-trainer CIMIC
courses, two CIMIC courses for peacekeepers and one gender in peacekeeping
operations workshop.

Over 150 participants are expected to attend the five courses.

The CIMIC courses are based on a training module that was developed through
the 'Capacity Building Support for Malaysia's Role in Multidimensional
Peacekeeping Training' project which was launched by the Ministry of Defence
(MINDEF) and the UNDP in October 2010.


The statement said the project was made possible through a US$1 million
(RM3.2 million) contribution from the Government of Japan.

The increasing complexity of modern day peacekeeping operations has led to a
growing demand for training materials that are able to address key operational
and mission specific challenges in the fast changing global and regional context
and political landscape.

The successful implementation of the MINDEF-UNDP project should bring about
multiplier benefits, especially when the training module is referred to and used
by other peacekeeping training centres around the world, the statement added.