About ZIF

Mandate

Preparation and Training of Civilian Personnel
Through its training program, ZIF pursues two objectives: to screen and assess candidates for ZIF’s pool of German civilian professionals for deployment to international peace operations, and to provide field-oriented preparation for personnel in such operations.

ZIF offers basic peacekeeping, specialization, and election observation courses. All courses focus on the practical preparation for work in a peace operation, based on mission experience and lessons learned. The core target group is primarily German professionals whose profiles match the selection criteria of international organizations for their field missions; however, the courses are also open to a limited number of international participants.


Human Resources
Developing and maintaining a national pool of civilian professionals is one of ZIF’s core tasks. From this pool, suitable candidates for positions in peace operations are selected in close coordination with the relevant departments of the Federal Foreign Office.  Depending on the recruitment procedure utilized by the particular international organization, ZIF then either nominates candidates directly or supports their independent application. To facilitate rapid and targeted selection and deployment of personnel, ZIF uses a specifically designed online database.

Support for German personnel, both during and after deployment is another central part of ZIF’s work. In order to guarantee continuous support, each mission member is assigned a liaison person at ZIF. In addition to this, the Center’s staff also keeps contact with deployed personnel through regular field visits. Local, volunteer “ZIF networks” of German mission members have been established in a number of countries to improve the information flow between deployed personnel, the local German diplomatic representation, and the Center itself. On return, the personnel participate in debriefing sessions on a regular basis.


Analysis and Lessons Learned
ZIF’s activities in the areas of training, recruitment, and support are backed up by the Analysis and Lessons Learned Unit through conceptual input and evaluation. Its recommendations are based on research and analysis on current developments in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and election observation. This Unit is also responsible for organizing seminars and conferences, developing and maintaining close contact with national and international actors in the field of crisis management, maintaining an up-to-date internet presence, and providing advice and information to the German government and parliament.