The prerequisites necessary to participate in this course are:
- be medically fit to follow the entire course and in particular the exercises in the field,
- be an officer of rank captain to lieutenant-colonel, police or civilian personnel of equivalent level,
- master the French or English language,
- be likely to hold a job as DDR manager in a peace support operation in Africa.
Objective of the internship:
The purpose of the internship is to familiarize participants with DDR techniques so as to build a pool of staff capable of performing DDR tasks, namely:
- understand the nature of conflict and peacebuilding,
- integrate the IDDRS context (United Nations integrated DDR standards) in a United Nations peacebuilding process,
- learn the main elements of a DDR program,
- study several scenarios during which a DDR process was carried out,
acquire the practical knowledge to be applied in a DDR process.
Discussed subjects:
- IDDRS: Integrated DDR Standards,
- Introduction: conflict mapping, peacebuilding process in Africa,
- DDR environment: role of the military and police, profile of combatants, vulnerable groups, cross-border movement of populations, ex-combatants, UNDP, food aid program, health, HIV AIDS,
- DDR tools: strategy, planning, implementation, negotiation, mediation, media, destruction of small arms, forceful disarmament, reception center, challenges of social and economic reintegration,
- Case study: Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo,
- Final exercise.
General organization of the internship:
- the internship is open to both men and women,
- the internship lasts 2 weeks,
- start of the course on Monday at 07:30 a.m .: welcome message from the director, promotion photo, administrative formalities,
- working hours: Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00,
- a cultural tour of Bamako is organized on Saturday morning,
- free time on Saturday afternoon and Sunday,
- end of the internship on the second Friday at 12 noon after the graduation ceremony.
Special point:
The DDR course was completely revised in early 2008 in partnership with the Swiss Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP). Practical exercises are organized to supplement theoretical knowledge.
Each trainee has 20 minutes to briefly present their country, their armed forces (for the military) or the organization to which they belong (for civilians). It is advisable to prepare this presentation before joining Bamako.
Civilian personnel, interested in following the training and who meet the selection criteria, must send their CV along with the registration form to the following address civil applications@empbamako.org - by mentioning in the subject line the name of the course. Out of 25 participants, 13 are civilians. Each trainee receives in advance all documents relating to the internship and all important readings to allow the intern to optimize his internship week. It is advisable to prepare and read the documentation before joining the course.