UNHCR Rwanda participates in UN Military Experts on Mission Course

Rwanda Peace Academy, Musanze District –Staff members of UNHCR Rwanda’s External Relations and Protection Units on Friday last week took part in the United Nations Military Experts on Mission Course (MeoM) and trained senior military officials on the role of the UNHCR in mission areas.

The United Nations Military Experts on Mission Course is being held in Rwanda for the first time ever at the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) in Musanze District, and will span a four-week period. The course is being conducted by Rwanda Defense Force officers.

The aim of the RPA MeoM course is to prepare selected international and RDF officers for a tour of duty as Military Experts on Mission (MeoM) within multi-national or United Nations (UN) Peace Operations drawn from countries in the East African region namely; Kenya, Uganda, Comoros, Somalia, Sudan and hosts, Rwanda.

UNHCR External Relations Officer, Daniela Ionita, briefed the senior military officers on the role played by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in mission areas including peace-keeping operations and large-scale disaster management situations. “It is crucial that all entities involved in a humanitarian crisis collaborate in an efficient, coordinated, and well-informed manner, as we are working together to protect the persons of concern including civilians who are often affected directly or indirectly by refugee situations” Ionita said.

Ionita expounded on critical components of the UNHCR role in missions areas including the United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination mechanism and what it entails, as well as breaking down OCHA’s role in Civil-Military Coordination, the dimensions of Civil-Military relations and explained in detail what the Refugee Coordination Model (RCM) is all about.

UNHCR External Relations Officer Ms. Daniela Ionita briefing the senior military officers ©UNHCR/Steve Nzaramba

Participants of the United Nations Military Experts on Mission Course (MeoM) ©UNHCR/Steve Nzaramba

Ms. Amal AlBeedh of the UNHCR’s Protection Unit conducted a lively, interactive session in which officers were quizzed on the role of the military in refugee protection. ©UNHCR/Steve Nzaramba

Thereafter, Amal AlBeedh of the UNHCR’s Protection Unit conducted a lively, interactive session in which officers were quizzed on the role of the military in refugee protection.

AlBeedh also facilitated a session in which the officers analyzed scenarios drawn from real-life experiences to test their knowledge and level of awareness of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) in camps and/or informal refugee settlements, and how to handle such situations in accordance with standard procedures and within the boundaries of the law.

Captain Gift Agiri Kaganda of the Uganda People’s Defense Airforce applauded the UN and the UNHCR in particular for taking the time to train her and her fellow officers, saying she learnt a lot and gained many skills she did not possess before.

“I have learnt a lot concerning our behavior and responsibilities as peacekeepers, and especially on topics related to gender sensitivity, treatment of women and children, and how to handle myself when I encounter cases of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) when on a mission. I have really gained a lot,” Captain Kaganda said.

Over the four-week period, the first week of the MeoM Course covered instructor preparation, the second and third weeks explored the UN Core Pre-Deployment Module, local indoor practical exercises and mission partner roles, and the final week will feature field-training exercises at the Nkumba General Area of the Rwanda Defense Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama.

The course is funded by the Swedish government and the Nordic Defense Cooperation in collaboration with the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF).

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