The Programme

Strengthening the performance of our UN Peacekeepers contributes to more effective implementation of mandates and better safety and security of our personnel.

Since its inception in 2015, established as the UN Signals Academy, the newly named UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP) continues to uphold the highest standards and has elevated its goals to better respond to the challenges of peace operations and the expectations of Troop Contributing Countries and Police Contributing Countries (TCCs/PCCs).

The UNCAP programme provides core training on key UN-Owned Equipment to uniformed and civilian specialists in Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR); and Camp Security:

• The basics of information and communications technologies (ICT) including Radio communications, Satellite communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, and Spectrum management
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) technologies; in particular micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
• Camp security and Early Warning technologies including terrestrial radars, Sense & Warn systems

The modules will also be offered in other UN official languages. The curriculum is updated on a regular basis to incorporate new C4ISR and camp security technologies and standards.

Milestones

As of 30 September 2024, the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations has achieved the following milestones:

• Graduated a total of 23,090 ICT uniformed specialists (17.29% female) from 139 countries. Of these, 13,106 have been trained in the classroom (707 in RSCE, the rest across missions), 9,491 have been trained online (self-paced) and 493 participants have been trained through virtual instructor-led capability. Developed an online learning platform, offering C4ISR and camp security technologies courses to civilian and uniformed personnel who are deployed or are in pre-deployment to peacekeeping missions.
• Development of five new courses (UN PKO Spectrum Management, C4ISR Technology Orientation, UN PKO Information and Cyber Security Fundamentals, UN PKO CIS Planning and CIS Technical Instructor Course) in cooperation with the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency.
• Offering a total of twenty-one courses; ten in-person courses at the Reginal Service Centre in Entebbe, Uganda and eleven online (E-learning and self-paced) courses.
• Established a Mission Operations Centre - Simulated Training Environment (OPSCEN-STE) and a Virtual Instructor-led Training Capability (VILT) at UNCAP in Entebbe. Completed thirteen editions of the Women’s Outreach Course for ICT uniformed specialists. A total of 288 female officers from 74 countries were trained and 36 course graduates (22%) have been deployed as signals/ICT staff officers, military observers and police advisors.
• Introduced the Modular Command Centre Training-of-Trainers. This course was designed to develop a pool of trainers that can effectively and efficiently train others to safely deploy, operate and maintain the “M-products” deployable capabilities: Modular Command Centre (MCC) and Modular Power Pack (MPP).
• Trained 935 personnel on the Micro Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), including military, police, and civilians from various missions including the United Nations Support Office Somalia (UNSOS), the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Graduates represented diverse groups such as Aviation Safety, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), UNSOS Field Technology, Close Protection, Police, UN Mine Action Service, Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance cells in MONUSCO and AMISOM, the UN Department of Security and Safety, and the Public Information Office.

[PDF] UNCAP Micro-Unmanned Aerial Systems (M-UAS) Workshop Report

Raising the Bar

UNCAP is set to broaden its programming and extend its reach to a larger audience. This expansion will include the introduction of new digital technology training courses, enhanced by the addition of NATO-funded VILT capability, which aims to enrich the digital training offerings.

This expansion, along with the Academy's commitment to avoiding generic "one size fits all" approaches, underlines its dedication to innovatively meeting the evolving needs of peacekeeping missions.

UNCAP's forward-thinking approach, emphasising the systematic consideration of data, networks, and partnerships, is geared towards increasing the effectiveness of UN peace operations and rebuilding trust through enhanced digital capabilities. The programme plans to further strengthen its operational capacity by:

• Enhancing its existing programmes:

  • Classroom-based courses at the Academy hub in Entebbe, Uganda, close to the epicentre of peacekeeping;
  • Mobile training teams deployed In-Missions or at the TCC/PCC level;
  • Remote learning through self-paced courses and through Virtual Instructor-Led Technology (VILT).

• Expanding course offerings in three United Nations official languages.

• Further developing the Triangular Partnership by seeking support from additional partners to sustain the programme at its new levels of ambition.