United Nations Staff Officer Course-40 was held from 07th August to 18th August 2023. The purpose of the course was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the United Nations’ functioning, basic principles, guidelines and policies. The course aimed to equip attendees with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively fulfill their responsibilities as Staff Officers (SOs) in Field Headquarters (FHQ) and Sector Headquarters (SHQ).

Participation:

The course had a total of 41 participants. Among them, 21 were officers from the Pakistan Army, including 4 female officers. The remaining 20 participants were from foreign countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, China, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.

Instructors:

The participants received training from a highly diverse group of instructors, comprising the Peacekeeping Training Faculty, active-duty officers from the Pakistan Army and Police Department, as well as seasoned experts from the United Nations and Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs).

As per the General Agreement of Cooperation signed between the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) and Republic of Korea Peacekeeping Operations Center (ROKPKOC), under the instructor exchange program, two distinguished Korean Instructors, specifically Col (R) Kwon Gu II and Dr. Kim Jung Pil from ROKPKOC joined the respective course as Instructors. The Korean instructors not only enhanced the training content but also significantly contributed to the participants’ knowledge, enriching the overall training experience. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in preparing the participants for their respective UN missions, and CIPS looks forward to future collaborations with them.

Conduct Methodology:

The course was conducted as per Integrated Training Service (ITS) developed training materials. The Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials (CPTM) remained a fundamental component of the course. Participants received DPO/DOS guidance materials such as peacekeeping training policies, standard operating procedures and basic guidelines Also, Subject-matter experts (SMEs) in the field delivered valuable lectures.

Visits:

During their stay, the officers enjoyed visits to iconic landmarks in and around Islamabad with an entire day at Murree, allowing them to experience the natural beauty of Pakistan. Farewell dinner was hosted at a Monal Hill resort on the outskirts of Islamabad. Alongside this, the participants visited Lok Virsa, and Pakistan Monument as well as the Faisal Mosque to fully experience Pakistan and its rich heritage and culture.

Closing Ceremony:

The closing ceremony of the course took place on 18th August 2023. Principal NIPCONCS, Maj Gen Raja Aftab Khan was the Chief Guest. Defense Attachés’ of KSA, Egypt, Jordan and Sri Lanka also graced the occasion. The ceremony proceedings were initiated with a comprehensive briefing on CIPS and the Peacekeeping Training Department. This was followed by the distribution of certificates amongst the participants. Thereafter, the visiting Korean instructor, Dr. Kim Jung Pil, delivered his farewell remarks where he expressed gratitude to all the faculty members, staff and colleagues for their hospitality during his stay here along with his fellow Col (R) Kwon Gu II. He emphasized his anticipation of fostering an active exchange and collaborative initiatives between Pakistan and Korea.

In his closing remarks, Principal NIPCONS congratulated all the participants on the successful completion of the course and appreciated Pakistan’s contributions in the peacekeeping domain. Additionally, he recognized the invaluable efforts of the Korean professors, who enriched the course experience. He further honored CIPS as a center of excellence dedicated to promoting peace and stability. He emphasized Pakistan’s vital role in global peace initiatives and acknowledged CIPS as the foremost training institute for UN Peacekeepers. He also extended his best wishes to all the course participants for their assignments in different peacekeeping missions.