Essex peacekeeping experts deliver special workshop

Peacekeeping experts from our Department of Government took part in a special event at the International Peace Support Training Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

During the two-day event, Professor Han Dorussen and Dr Prabin Khadka held a workshop on local perception of peacekeeping missions, which was attended by military and civilian officials with an interest in peacekeeping, as well as the training centre's staff and graduate students.

The visit also involved discussions around possible further collaborations, including Essex academics engaging with stakeholders in peace and security in East Africa, supporting the centre's PhD training programmes and collaborating on research projects related to peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as well as training peacekeepers.

Professor Dorussen studies the effectiveness of peacekeeping with a specific interest in the impact of the deployment of peacekeepers at the local level and the perception of peacekeepers by the local population. Dr Khadka's research focuses on international interventions, particularly peacekeeping, with an emphasis on the dynamics between peacekeepers and civilian protection efforts.

Brig H A Amin, Chief of Research, Doctrine, and Training Evaluation at the International Peace Support Training Centre, said: "This type of collaboration with peacekeeping academics and borrowing from their research findings are crucial steps toward further improving Kenyan peacekeeping strategies."

Professor Dorussen added: "We received positive feedback from the symposium we hosted. Many of the attendees had a wealth of experiences in peacekeeping which they were keen to share with us. The event successfully fostered deeper engagement on key issues, leaving everyone involved eager for future collaboration on peacekeeping operations."

Pictured from left: Commandant of the Humanitarian Peace Support School at the International Peace Support Training Centre, Col J K Rongoei, with Professor Han Dorussen and Dr Prabin Khadka.