17 November 2025
Invitation to apply for
the United Nations Comprehensive Protection of Civilians
Course (UNCPOC Online) 2026
23 March – 2 April 2026
1 Concept and Purpose of the Course
The aim of the United Nations Comprehensive Protection of Civilians Course is to
strengthen the understanding of the participants on how Protection of Civilians, Child
Protection and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence considerations affects POC planning
processes. The course provides in-depth examination of core protection tasks that are
performed by personnel with dedicated protection functions in order to implement the
mandate effectively in the field from mission to site -level.
The course demonstrates the complex linkages between protection tasks and provides
training guidance on how to prevent, deter and respond to interrelated threats. The
course focuses on developing practical understanding of the mandate of UN and other
protection actors in operations. The course highlights the roles and responsibilities of
the different components (military, police, civilian) and the methods of protecting
civilians from threats of violence. The course aims to emphasize the importance of
cooperation and coordination between the different components and actors.
The course is conducted fully as an online course with fixed schedule. The course
consists of online syndicate work, individual learning, online plenaries and online table
top exercise.
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1.2 Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of the Comprehensive Protection of Civilians (CPOC)
according to the United Nations Peacekeeping Handbook
Identify the relevant legal CPOC framework in the mission mandate
Integrate CPOC considerations into to the military decision-making process at the
tactical level within the operation framework with the support of an SME
Collaborate with the various different actors in a UN Peace Operation environment
Apply the CPOC concept according to the mission mandate and the UN peacekeeping
handbook to ensure mission success
1.3 Student Criteria
The course has been designed for military personnel working on the tactical level in UN
PO and IO/NGO’s working with UN in these operational environments or equivalent
police officers and civilians working on the tactical level.
The applicants must fulfil the following criteria to be eligible to attend the course:
Serving/will serve (being expected to serve in respective position) in:
• UN Military Component (Leadership, Military Liaison Officers, Force
Protection Officers, Operations Officers, Intelligence, CIMIC Officers,
Military Advisers)
• UN Police Component (Leadership, Planning Officers, Operation
Officers, Intelligence, FPU Leadership)
• UN Military Observer Component (S/CMO, Planning Officers, Sector
Liaison Officers, Staff Security Officers, Team Site Leaders, Observer
Group Leadership)
• UN PKO and SPM; Mission Leadership and Integrated Structures
personnel interacting with the UNSMS
• UN Country Team Component/UNDSS Security Experts/Other UN
Security Personnel (Operational/SA level; SA, SIOC Officers, FSCO or
equal)
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• UN HQ NY: Middle level managers directly involved in the response or
management of safety and security incidents and safety and security
related crises.
• Member States/TCC/PCC training institutions,
Educational background/experience:
• Experienced in their own field and/or selected for the position listed
above.
• Experience from working in Field Operations/Crisis Management
Operations/Conflict Environment, preferably in a multinational
environment (mil, pol, civ).
• Security professionals serving in the UN should have completed the
Security Certification Programme (SCP) with at least 2 years of field
security experience.
• Non-UN personnel: Academic degree EQF 6 and 7 or equivalent
education.
• (Rank) Level: OF2-5, police, civilian equivalent
Language Proficiency: UN III (Advanced Language Competence)
(https://hr.un.org/page/un-language-framework) or English language NATO
STANAG 6001: 3232.
Learners must have a steady network connection and access to a personal
computer at all times during the course schedule.
FINCENT is fully committed achieving UN goals of gender parity and increase diversity.
Female candidates and personnel from under-represented countries are strongly
encouraged to apply and will be considered first tier nominees.
2 Applying
Student applications with organisations approval / endorsement must be submitted
using the online registration system (LYYTI).
You must fill in all the questions marked (*) in the form. Please make sure that you have
all the necessary information and files at hand when you start filling the application.
Please note: Group applications by nations/organisations are no longer accepted.
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All documents must be in English. Please do not attach any letters or other documents
in any other language as they will be disregarded.
- Register as an applicant by using following link:
https://www.lyyti.in/UNCPOC2026
- Applications must be filled no later than (NLT) 11 January 2026 23:59 UTC +
2
- Selection of learners to UNCPOC NLT 14 January 2026
- FINCENT will inform all applicants NLT 16 January 2026 whether or not they
have been selected to the course. The admitted students will receive a new link
with pre-course information package with further details regarding the course.
3 Administration
There is no course fee on UNCPOC 2026.
If you have any questions concerning the course, please do not hesitate to contact
FINCENT Student admin: (
[email protected]). More information about FINCENT is
available at: www.fincent.fi.
Esapekka Vehkaoja
Colonel
FINCENT Commandant