International Peace Support Training Centre

The closing ceremony of the Annual African Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Conference commenced with a presentation on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Centres Of Excellence (COEs), its C-IED doctrine, Principles of COEs, Structure and Manning, Main activities, Courses and its International Relations. Also covered was the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Counter-IED Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), Examples of regional approaches against threats posed by IEDs, Options and opportunities to better utilise United Nations processes and actors, as well as Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme. There was also an overview of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Somalia, encompassing the Project Introduction, African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Support and Implications of the drawdown. The Commandant Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) Col J Rongoei gave the remarks on behalf of the Director International Peace Support Training Center, thanking everyone for taking their time to participate in this year’s conference. He reiterated that IPSTC would continue to support the regional approaches in reducing the vulnerability of peacekeepers to IEDs and other explosive Hazards during their Peace support operations which would be supported by conducting training to regional Troop Contributing Countries on matters C-IED. He reminded all that IPSTC has a fully-fledged C-IED training platform which supports all these efforts by ensuring that all the C-IED courses meet the required international standards. The Chief Guest who is the Defence Attaché United Kingdom, Brig Oliver Bryant, expressed his gratitude to all the sponsors of the conference as well as all the institutions that allowed the participants to attend the event. He acknowledged that British Peace Support Team- Africa (BPST-A) would not only sponsor HPSS, but was open to assisting countries who would reach out for C-IED training support.

The second day of the conference began with an incredible lineup of speakers from various organizations. The topics covered included types of IED components documented in West Africa 2014-2022, Combined review of all Explosive Ordinance(EO)/CIED documents, Implementation of IED Threat Mitigation Working Group (IED TM WG),United Nations approach to CIED Training C-IED Courses at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) and An overview of Counter- Explosive Ordnance Defence Engagement (CEDE) and it's capabilities, Opportunity Development Process. According to The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), risk education is a crucial component of the global response to countering the threat posed by IEDs hence the need to operationalize the Technical Note on IED Risk Education. Other topics discussed by GICHD included the impact of explosive ordnance, International Humanitarian Law & Policy, Mine Action strategies, Mine action & broader agendas Explosive ordnance risk education (EORE), Humanitarian impact on IEDs, IED characteristics, key principles of humanitarian work, Design of messaging and materials specific to IED, Implications of 'Improvisation' for visual presentations and Risks in non-permissive environments.

The meeting on the Commercial Training Center Cooperation Project, proposed by Mr. Harald Schmittgall, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) representative in Africa, took place at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) and it was graced by the Director IPSTC, Brig J C Sitienei, and the Commandant Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS), Col J K Rongoei. Also present were Lt Col K Opiyo and the GICHD focal point for East Africa, Lt Col (rtd) J.K. Maritim. Under discussion was the potential collaboration between IPSTC, HPSS and GICHD to enhance commercial training capabilities within HPSS. Mr. Harald Schmittgall outlined a comprehensive plan to foster cooperation among the three institutions. The proposal centered on leveraging HPSS’s existing resources in the adoption of training programs in diverse areas, including high-dog training systems, humanitarian mine action (HMA), mine action management, K9 units for HMA, post-blast incident management, and both mechanical and manual clearance techniques. This collaboration would not only enhance the capacity of HPSS but also position it as a key player in commercial training in Africa. The Director IPSTC expressed her support for the proposal, aligning herself with the views of Col Rongoei, who emphasized the importance of formalizing the plan. It was suggested that a concept note be drafted by Mr. Harald Schmittgall to outline the specifics of the collaboration. This document would then serve as a foundational step in moving the project forward, ensuring that all parties are aligned on the objectives, training needs and expected outcomes. It was agreed that the concept note would be completed and submitted by Mr. Harald before the end of November, the timeline being critical in ensuring the proposal is presented to the Joint Coordination Board (JCB) for approval in good time. The successful implementation of this project will significantly enhance the training capabilities at HPSS, making it a regional hub for specialized training in K9 training, humanitarian mine action and related fields.

The 6th Annual African Counter- Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Conference began at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen with an opening ceremony by the British High Commissioner to Kenya, His Excellency Neil Wigan as the chief guest.  The aim of the conference, which will last 3 days, is to bring together subject matter experts from across the African continent and beyond to share best practice, as well as provide greater situational awareness of current IED threats and trends.  The Director IPSTC, Brig Joyce Sitienei welcomed all while reiterating the Center's willingness to support the conference. The chief guest admitted the tremendous progress in the C-IED course stating its importance even as threats increase.  Some of the topics up for discourse include the purpose of C-IED Strategy, Strategic objectives, thematic areas, Regional Strategy to prevent, counter and respond to the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region and establishment of a regional oversight mechanism, high level sensitisation and coordination.

The Civilian Security Coordination and Human Rights Course was officially launched in Mandera County, marking the beginning of a crucial seven day initiative aimed at enhancing peacekeeping efforts in the region. Over the next seven days, attendees will engage in intensive training sessions designed to foster better understanding and cooperation, ultimately contributing to more effective and empathetic peacekeeping missions in Mandera County.

The Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Embakasi was honored to welcome His Excellency Okaniwa Ken the Ambassador of Japan, for a familiarization tour. The Director IPSTC, Brig Joyce Sitienei warmly welcomed him whilst acknowledging the Ambassador's presence as a testament to the Government of Japan’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations Triangular Partnership Programme (UNTPP). She reaffirmed that IPSTC and Kenya as a whole, is proud to be part of this initiative and will remain committed to supporting such training programs in the future thereby ensuring their continued success. The Director further clarified that HPSS is privileged to host 24 trainers from the government of Japan alongside 24 trainees from Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs). “From the reports I received, they are greatly benefiting from the training environment and warm hospitality offered at our school. They are also enjoying Kenya’s rich cultural heritage, as evidence by the social excursions organized by the Centre.” she reiterated. A brief of IPSTC was presented, followed by a visit to the demo site, where the current United Nations Triangular Partnership Programme Heavy Engineering Equipment Training Of Trainers (UNTPP HEE TOT) Course was ongoing. His excellency thereafter visited the Peace Support Operations Amani village.   The visit was came to a close with a tree planting exercise.

IPSTC Mobile Training Team (MTT) paid a courtesy call to the office of the County Commissioner, Mandera County, in preparation for the forth coming Civilian-Security Coordination (CISEC) and Human Rights course that will be conducted at the county headquarters from 26-30 August 2024. The MTT is spearhead by Dr Michael Osew and Ms Margaret Cheptile. The training aims to enhance cohesion and trust building between security agencies and the community in order to promote inclusive development in the borderland counties of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa. Present in the meeting were the Mandera County Police Commander (CPC), the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), the County Administration Police Commander (CAPC), Secretary to the County Security and Intelligence Committee, and the County Director of Community Cohesion, Conflict Management and Prevention of Radicalization.

Visit by Full Bright Theological Seminary to IPSTC: A Step Toward Collaboration in Pre and Post Deployment Care The International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) today hosted a delegation from Full Bright Theological Seminary (FBTS) to explore potential collaboration in trauma-informed care. The FBTS delegation was composed of Chancellor Jeoffrey Forshee, Vice Chancellor Dr. Francis Githuku, Dr. Jennifer Gachoka, and Mr Stephen Ibabu. The aim of their visit was to establish a framework for joint initiatives that would enhance the delivery of Pre and Post deployment care within the context of Peace Support Operations (PSOs) . The meeting was chaired by Colonel Muthusi Kimwele head of the Post graduate school (IPS), who welcomed the FBTS team. In attendance were Lieutenant Colonel Onsongo Gekara, the head of Peace Studies and Research Department (PSRD), Lieutenant Colonel Charles Serriere, the SO1 Plans and Programs (France) and the Senior Researcher at IPSTC, Dr. Emily Ogutu and her team. The discussions focused on leveraging the strengths of both institutions to develop a holistic approach to addressing care after deployment particularly to conflict-affected regions. Damaris Kimani, a curriculum developer at PSRD, shared insights on the systems approach to training. Her presentation emphasized the importance of structured and adaptable training programs that can be tailored to the specific needs of different contexts. Watson Karuma, also from PSRD, provided a brief overview of the department’s work, underscoring its commitment to research and development in peace support operations. He highlighted ongoing projects and potential areas where collaboration with FBTS could significantly enhance outcomes. The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism about the future of the budding partnership, with plans to formalize the collaboration in the coming months. In conclusion, Colonel Muthusi Kimwele provided further insights into the critical aspects of the collaboration, addressing the mandate, timelines, and initial steps for navigating the programme. He expressed enthusiasm about the potential of the partnership which would set the stage for a successful and impactful journey ahead.

The International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) today welcomed Commander Holger Grossmann and his team from Germany, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing research and training capacities within the Center. Colonel Muthusi Kimwele, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the potential areas of convergence between IPSTC and the German interns. He noted the importance of working closely with the German team to identify synergies and strengthen joint efforts, emphasizing the need to move together towards shared goals. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Serriere provided an overview briefing to the visiting delegation, detailing the Center's mission, ongoing projects, and future aspirations, setting the stage for in-depth discussions on leveraging the partnership to bolster IPSTC's research capabilities. Dr. Emily Okuto, a key figure in the Center's research initiatives, also welcomed the visitors, stressing the importance of their presence, particularly in the realm of research. She outlined the internship program's role in establishing an International Research Desk at IPSTC , a Residential International Research Desk (RIRD) that will serve as a vital resource for both visiting and resident researchers. The establishment of this RIRD, expected to be fully operational by the end of the six-week internship program, is seen as a significant step towards solidifying IPSTC's position as a leading research and training Center in the region. Both IPSTC and the German team are committed to ensuring that the partnership yields tangible outcomes, particularly in the development of robust research frameworks that will benefit peace support operations globally.

A comprehensive 2 day induction training program for newly posted personnel to International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) was today launched, signaling the start of their journey at the prestigious institution. The induction program was officially inaugurated by Brig Joyce Sitienei, the Director IPSTC. The Director highlighted the significance of the induction process, noting that it marks the beginning of a critical phase in the careers of the participants. She laid emphasis on the importance of their roles in advancing peace and security both in Africa and around the world. The Introduction to the induction program was delivered by Head of Post Graduate School (IPS) Col J Kimwele, who also provided an in-depth overview of IPSTC’s core values. He stressed the center’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and teamwork, which are foundational to enhancing peace support operation capacity on the continent. Col Kimwele articulated how these values are not only integral to the work at IPSTC but also essential in the broader context of global peace efforts. Mr Watson Karuma, from the Peace and Security Research Department, followed with a brief yet insightful presentation on the importance of research within IPSTC. He mentioned the role of the department in driving informed decision-making and policy formulation, which are crucial to the success of peace support missions. The final presentation for the day was by Ms Margaret Cheptile, the Head of Curriculum Design at the Peace and Security Research Department (PSRD). She provided an overview of the Systems Approach to Training (SAT), a methodical process used in curriculum design to ensure that training programs meet the specific needs of the trainees. Ms Cheptile highlighted how SAT is employed at IPSTC to create effective and relevant training programs. The Induction program at IPSTC is expected to continue tomorrow, providing the new personnel with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in their roles. With such a strong foundation, it is anticipated that the participants will be able to contribute meaningfully to the mission of IPSTC and in promoting peace and security globally.