The main objective of the course is to convey the significance of successful mentoring and advising for the implementation of the overall mission mandate and to determine how mentoring schemes and processes can successfully contribute to local ownership of a host nation.
The challenge of how to integrate local knowledge and traditions into the transitional process - how to strike the proper balance - in the implementation of internationally accepted standards is tremendous and demands patience and subtlety from all partners involved. Successful mentoring can contribute to reducing the friction caused by these transitions.
The fact that gaining and holding the respect of local staff is a pre-condition to being accepted in the role of a mentor is addressed in the training and participants are introduced to tools and techniques in working with interpreters.
Furthermore, the dilemmas of “intrusive” peace-building measures and how they can affect and influence the relationship of a mentor and mentee are discussed. Sustainable capacity development requires a comprehensive, continuous and logical process that begins with strategic planning and is followed by assessment of capacity needs, planning for capacity development interventions and finally periodical monitoring and evaluation.
