In 1992, through his “Agenda for Peace”, UN General Secretary Boutros Ghali called upon UN member states to train and provide civil professionals for peace missions, stating that such individuals need comprehensive training before deployment. ASPR with the support of the Austrian Federal Government has responded to this call and established a training concept called International Civilian Peace Keeping and Peace Building Training Program (IPT).
The training for civilian peace keeping and peace-building involves a two-week foundation training preparing candidates for the situation in conflict areas in general, as well as a function-oriented two-week specialisation course qualifying candidates for a specific task in terms of peace keeping/building activities. The course is designed to develop a conflict sensitive behaviour in conflict areas, a behaviour which recognises the specific needs of the particular nation/ethnic group, avoids negative impacts („Do no harm“), takes responsibility through the people („Ownership“) and focuses on long-term impacts of the mission (sustainability). The courses are meant to help achieve a better understanding and cooperation between various governmental and non-governmental players and contribute to various focal working points and activities such as peace keeping, development cooperation and humanitarian aid.