UN Field Operations Security Management Course in Nairobi: Enhancing Collaborative Learning for Peace Operations

13-17 October, FINCENT conducted a mixed learning iteration of the Advance UN Field Operations Security Management Course (UNFOSMP) at the UN Office in Nairobi, Kenya. Mixed learning is a combination of residential classroom lectures at the UN Office premises, combined with learners participating online and working together through a web-based platform. 24 learners attended the Advance course, 19 residential and 5 online.

The Advance course is the final stage in a series of three courses and requires successful completion of both the online Foundation and Basic courses before students can attend the final Advance course. One learner summarized the experiences from the Advance course:

- My key takeaways from the course are mainly the enriching learning environment and the plenty of space for practical teamwork, which fostered the exchange of knowledge and experiences among colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Moreover, the guidance and support provided by the training team were essential in summarizing discussions and highlighting the main learning objectives.

The course was planned and delivered in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), the Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO) and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA).

This cooperation ensures an up-to-date course with instructors from the UN system and FINCENT providing course staff and senior experts with UN experience, who could bring real-life experience to the fictitious Carana scenario used to practically apply the lectures into a scenario-based syndicate work.

The course aims to prepare civilian personnel, police and military for safety and security management-related interaction and cooperation between the different components in ongoing and future peace operations; attending to supporting personal, professional growth; and learning and working as a group.

- In my daily work, I will certainly apply the knowledge and insights gained on the UNSMS system, the risk assessments, and the implementation of feasible and concrete security measures that take into account the capacities and particularities of all components involved in the field. All of these with the plus to have had clear inputs and rehearsal on how the communicate this information to colleagues and superiors in the format of SC/SMT briefings-meetings. (UNFOSMP Advance Course 2/25 participant)

The UNFOSMP Courses are conducted in two-weeks lasting learning events. The UNFOSMP 1/2026 will be held at UNON, Nairobi Kenya in February 2026 and UNFOSMP 2/2026 is planned to be held at CECOPAC, Santiago Chile in October 2026.

More information about the course will be available on the FINCENT website.