Mr Juvenal Shiundu was honoured and delighted to be the Lead Facilitator and Mentor to the 4th Strategic Maritime Security and Blue Economy Course (SMSBEC) that took place from 31 July to 4 August 2023 at the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), Nairobi, Kenya. The SMSBEC is aimed at highlighting the complex inter-sectorial of extant maritime security policies and implementation challenges; and the salience of an integrated approach to Maritime Security for the sustainable development of the Blue Economy in Eastern Africa in line with the African Union (AU) 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy and Agenda 2063.
The course, was funded by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and had nineteen participants from Kenya, South Africa and Uganda and was intended for policy makers and their implementing counterparts comprising senior administrators from the maritime stakeholders, military, security, Revenue Authority, and Foreign Affairs.
The Opening Ceremony took place on Monday 31 July 2023 and was presided over by Col E. W. Ngigi, Commandant, Peace and Conflict Studies School (PCSS) whilst Ms. Everlyn Koech represented the UNDP. In here opening remarks, Col. Ngigi stated that the relationship between maritime security and blue economy were two sides of one coin and their symbiotic relationship had become more pronounced over the decades.
This course was structured such that there were limited theoretical lessons followed by vast practical sessions. The lecture portion of the course was delivered in standard “lecture” format with a lot of participatory discussions. Whenever possible, practical approaches to learning was used (for example, Problem Based Learning) and each of the learning outcomes reinforced with a practical session which include but not limited to extensive syndicate scenario exercises, case studies, and simulations.
The other two Course Facilitators and Mentors were MARIBEI Associate Mr Ahmed Hersi and Col (Rtd) Beduni Mwagonga.
IPSTC is a center of excellence in Peace and security studies and is funded by 15 International Partners, including USA, UK, Japan, France, UNDP, UN Women, Save the Children etc.