On 8 September, 2010, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, UNITAR Peacekeeping Training Program (PTP) and Geneva Peacekeeping Platform (GPP) held a roundtable discussion on peacekeeping capacity and development in Africa during its 2nd annual Advisory Board Session. Peacekeeping in Africa has grown dramatically over the last five years, with the continent hosting more peacekeepers than any other region. With increased demand for peace operations worldwide, attention has focused on the ability of the UN and African organizations to respond to crises and to manage peacekeeping operations effectively. African sub regional organizations are developing more ability to tackle regional peace and security questions, and, in turn, donor governments and other international institutions are offering support bilaterally to leverage African capacities for such efforts.
With this in mind, UNITAR gathered together a group of experts to discuss the following questions: Which organizations can plan, deploy, manage and sustain peace operations in Africa? What is the role of the UN in strengthening the capacity of African institutions? Where should resources go, and how can they best reinforce existing capacities? And to what extent can training support this endeavor? The discussions were facilitated by UN Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director of UNITAR Carlos Lopez. Panelists included Jean-Marie Guehenno, chairperson of UNITAR PTP Advisory Board, Lt. Gen. the Honorable Roméo A. Dallaire, Senator of the Canadian Senate and former Commander of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda, and Dr. Funmi Olonisakin, Senior Research Fellow, Conflict Security and Development Group, King’s College London. The discussant was Lt. Gen. Marc Caron, ISSAT Senior Expert at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).