Support to the Secretary-General’s initiatives and others
AU-UN workshop sets milestones for STAR Programme (2025)
Building on the momentum generated by the African Union (AU) Deputy Chairperson and the Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support's endorsement of the Synergy Training for African Union-United Nations Resources (STAR) Programme during the 2024 AU-UN Annual Conference, the Department of Operational Support (DOS) recently hosted a workshop in Accra to progress the design and development of the programme.
The STAR Programme, a landmark joint learning initiative under the Knowledge and Expertise Exchange Programme (KEEP), is dedicated to enhancing operational support skills and identifying synergies between the AU and the UN. It aims to equip AU and UN personnel with the expertise needed to effectively fulfil support responsibilities during joint engagements.
DOS’s Capacity Development and Operational Training Service facilitated the workshop, utilizing innovative approaches, such as LEGO Serious Play. Significant milestones in the programme's development were achieved, including finalizing learning objectives, target audience, criteria for participation, and course content.
Participants also aligned on standardized terminology, which is crucial for cohesive development across all partners collaborating on the programme.
Participants included representatives from the AU Commission, DOS, the UN Office to the AU, and the UN Support Office in Somalia, whose expertise with the operational support partnership in Somalia provided valuable insights into course content design and the structuring of future collaborations.
A representative from the Training Department of the League of Arab States attended as an observer to deepen mutual awareness of training development processes in partner organizations and foster future institutional collaboration.
The STAR programme is well-positioned to create impactful joint learning opportunities, strengthen capacities, and enhance collaboration between the AU and UN on operational support issues. The collaborative spirit and clear direction achieved at the event set the stage for the next phase of capacity-building, with the pilot programme slated for launch in late 2025.
The Knowledge and Expertise Exchange Programme is a capacity-building initiative designed to enhance collaboration between the AU and the UN in operational support. The Support Partnership Service of DOS and the Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission jointly manage this programme.