ECOWAS Standby Capacity

Supporting post conflict or conflict countries necessitates addressing needs that extend beyond the military-security dimension but that encompass the political, human rights, humanitarian, development and other related areas. As such, there has been a greater demand for multidisciplinary and multidimensional approaches in peace support operations which call for an increased utilisation of civilian experts to support the achievement of increasingly complex mission mandates. The growing utilisation of civilian experts in African peace operations has also necessitated careful consideration about the way in which these experts are recruited and deployed. A key question has therefore been, “When a deployment need arises, how do we ensure we get the most qualified expert, out onto the field, within the shortest timeframe possible?”

The ECOWAS Civilian Standby Roster is a critical component of the African Civilian Standby Roster, developed and managed by the African Union (AU) Commission. The Standby Roster is intended to support civilian deployment needs in African peace operations with an emphasis on effectiveness and efficiency. ECOWAS roster members will be eligible for deployment in ECOWAS and AU peace operations. It should be noted that roster members (who are pre-screened, selected and trained) are not offered or guaranteed employment but rather are placed on standby until such time that a deployment need arises. The roster process also ensures that candidates on the database meet the various eligibility criteria as related to educational qualifications, professional experiences, linguistic ability, geographical representation and others.