Peace operations take place in multicultural environments where personnel from different national, linguistic and institutional backgrounds must work together to support local authorities and populations. Beyond operational skills, success in such missions depends heavily on the ability to understand, respect and adapt to local cultures and customs.

While most pre-deployment training briefly addresses diversity and respect, it rarely explores interculturality as a core operational competence. This limits the ability of peace personnel to engage effectively with local communities and to prevent misunderstandings or tensions arising from cultural differences.

Interculturality must therefore be understood as a dynamic and transformative process—one that requires self-awareness of personal biases, empathy, active listening and adaptability. Moreover, gender and intersectionality are central to understanding power relations and cultural dynamics within missions. The persistence of institutionalised forms of masculinity in military and police environments can influence attitudes and interactions, making it essential to integrate gender-sensitive and intersectional approaches into intercultural training.

Recognising these needs, UNITAR and OIF have joined forces to develop a comprehensive online course that combines theoretical knowledge with practical examples drawn from missions in Lebanon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. The course is designed to be both accessible and relevant for peace personnel operating in French- and English-speaking contexts.