UNITAR Online Catalogue

Introduction to Environment, Natural Resources and UN Peacekeeping Operations [PTP.2021.07E]

Peace

Type
Course
Location
Web-based
Duration
1 Days
Programme Area
Peacekeeping
Price
$0.00
Event Focal Point Email
ptp@unitar.org
Partnership
UNEP

Background

With a view to avoid and minimize the environmental impacts of peacekeeping missions, DPKO and the Department of Field Support (DFS) adopted an Environmental Policy for UN Field Missions in June 2009.  Furthermore, Global Field Support Strategy was approved by Member States in 2010. While the main aim of this five year strategy is to improve operational efficiency and transform service delivery, one of its secondary aims is to reduce the in-country environmental impact of peacekeeping and special political missions.
However, despite these positive developments, recent policy analysis report, titled Greening the Blue Helmets: Environment, Natural Resources and UN Peacekeeping Operations, prepared by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in close collaboration with DPKO and DFS, has shown that while the new policy had catalysed positive change in some peacekeeping missions – including testing and field application of resource-efficient practices, technologies and behaviours – the adoption of the policy in the field has to date been limited and ad hoc. This report further identifies opportunities for peacekeeping operations to capitalize on natural resources to contribute to stability and early peacebuilding outcomes, including employment, livelihoods, economic recovery and reconciliation.

This training course focuses on the environment and natural resource management in a post-conflict context. It is a general awareness training that targets all military, civilian and police personnel and should be completed either pre-deployment or once in-mission. Key areas of learning include minimizing the environmental impact of peacekeeping missions, improving operational efficiency from an environmental perspective and addressing environmental and natural resource challenges at field level. 

Event Objectives

As a direct answer to the Greening the Blue report recommendation, the aim of this training module is to increase general awareness of key environmental and natural resource concepts to all peacekeeping staff.

Learning Objectives

The four learning objectives are:

  • Linkages: At the end of the course, participants will be able to describe how environment and natural resource link to and affect peacekeeping operations.
  • Benefits: At the end of the course, participants will be able to identify the multiple benefits of addressing environment and natural resources in peacekeeping.
  • Policies: At the end of the course, participants will be able to describe how environment and natural resources are addressed by UN peacekeeping policies and mandates as well as sources of good practice.
  • Responsibilities: At the end of the course participants will be able to explain personal responsibilities and actions to be taken by every peacekeeper to implement the DPKO/DFS environmental policy.

 

Content and Structure

The course is broken down into three main sections:

  • Introduction to the learning objectives and key concepts;
  • Seven main reasons to care about environment and natural resources in peacekeeping operations;
  • What can each of us do to address environment and natural resource challenges at the field level?

Click on the tabs on the left to discover the four learning objectives of this module.  Estimated time of completion: 2 hours.

Methodology

The course is self-paced. Content is presented through interactive slides, videos, maps and graphs. The learners will be assessed based on a quiz at the end of the course.  

Targeted Audience

This general awareness raising training targets all military, police and civilian personnel working in or interested in working in peacekeeping operations.

Additional Information

Copyright
This training module was developed by UNEP’s Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch in collaboration with UNITAR and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). 

 

For administrative queries, contact ptp [at] unitar.org (ptp[at]unitar[dot]org)

 

Certificates of completion will be sent to participants, upon the successful completion of the end-of-course quiz and after participants have filled out the course evaluation form.

 

Technical Requirements 

UNITAR recommends the following as a minimum in hardware and software to take our e-Learning courses. Please consult your Network Administrator or Systems person to ensure that you have the following: 

Platform: 

Windows 7 or superior; 
MacOS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or superior; 
Linux. 

Hardware: 

Intel Core 2 Duo – or AMD – 3 GHz processor; 
3 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended); 
Hard drive: 160 GB minimum.                     

Software: 

Adobe Acrobat Reader; 
Adobe Flash Player. 

Browser: 

Google Chrome 30.0 or superior; 
Mozilla Firefox 25.0 or superior; 
Safari 7 or superior; 
Microsoft Edge 

Note that JavaScript, Cookies and Popups must be enabled 

Mobile: 

Apple iOS in Apple iOS 10 or superior on iPad: 

Articulate Mobile Player; 
Moodle Mobile. 

- Android OS in Android OS 4.1 or superior (optimized for tablets): 

Articulate Mobile Player; 
Moodle Mobile.

You will receive an email with the detailed information on how to access the course within 48 hours from the registration. Please kindly check your spam or junk inbox.