“This paper analyses the increasing incidents in Africa of establishing ‘Centres of Excellence’ to train peacekeepers in contemporary peace support operations. It situates the analyses within the context of the cognitive processes and experiential gains made at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Ghana since its inception in 2004. Though the time span may be limited, the paper argues that in terms of the reach, depth and empirical utility of the courses provided at the KAIPTC, and the training evaluation developed, this centre is making decisive and positive contributions to improving interoperability among African peacekeepers. The paper discusses the aims and objectives of the centre and situates this progress made within the context of the oversight and governance structures that have been established. It examines in detail two of the core courses taught at the centre, namely
the Civic Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and Negotiation courses, to provide an overview of the content and depth of its curriculum. Furthermore, it posits that the training standards that have been developed and its external liaison with agencies have contributed to the centre’s leading position in peacekeeping training in West Africa.”
