Joseph Isangura
Tanzania has become the first African nation—and only the second globally after Italy—to host the prestigious United Nations Staff Officer Training of Trainers (UNSO ToT).
This vital course in the international peacekeeping architecture is being conducted at the Tanzania Peacekeeping Training Centre (TPTC) in Kunduchi, Dar es Salaam.
The two-week program, which kicked off on July 7 and runs through July 17, 2025, brings together 22 military personnel from six countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Vietnam, Botswana, Zambia, and Tanzania. Funded by the Government of Canada, the course is designed to prepare mid- and senior-level military officers to serve as certified trainers for UN staff officer roles in complex peacekeeping missions.
Brigadier General George Itang’are, Commandant of the TPTC, told reporters that the initiative builds on a successful pilot conducted in Italy, and that Tanzania’s selection reflects years of commitment to regional and global peace. “This course allows us not only to host but to contribute intellectually and strategically to the future of UN Peacekeeping Operations,” he said.
The course is facilitated by experienced trainers from Tanzania, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and the United States. These facilitators are sharing best practices on modern peacekeeping, integrating elements of leadership, logistics, coordination, civil-military relations, and staff planning—all adapted to current conflict resolution environments and mission mandates.
According to Harinder Sood, the Head of Integrated Training Services at the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the course is “a turning point” in how troop-contributing countries prepare their personnel. He emphasized the importance of building sustainable training ecosystems where nations are not just recipients of knowledge but multipliers of it.
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What makes this training unique is its use of the newly revised Specialized Training Material (STM), developed by the UN and approved by the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. These materials focus on preparing staff officers to manage high-level responsibilities at Force Headquarters and Sector Headquarters in ongoing and upcoming peacekeeping missions such as those in South Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic.
One of the participants, Captain Nguyen Van Hieu from Vietnam, shared his experience: “I’m learning how to not only follow protocols but teach others to adapt them. Peacekeeping is not just about military structure—it’s about managing crises, working with civilians, and keeping peace in some of the most difficult places in the world.”
The training also addresses topics like gender integration, ethics in operations, and cross-cultural communication—an essential skill in multinational operations. These areas align with broader UN reforms aimed at improving the effectiveness and accountability of peacekeeping operations (UN Action for Peacekeeping).
Tanzania’s hosting of this program also underscores its rising role as a peace and security hub in East Africa. Over the years, Tanzania has provided military personnel to missions in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Sudan, and Burundi, among others.
By the end of the course, all 22 participants will be certified to train their country’s future staff officers—creating a multiplier effect that will boost peacekeeping readiness across the Global South.
