Since 2009, The USIP Advising Support Program has been training advisors who contribute to international assistance missions. A single course has grown into a program of instruction that is based on needs assessments, research and advisor/counterpart debriefing. USIP experts have trained advisors from government, military and non-governmental institutions who are supporting the development of institutional and operational-level capacity in the country to which they are assigned. Beyond direct support to advisors, the USIP Advising Support Program also provides guidance to deploying agencies on the development of mission mandates conducive to long-term capacity building.

Why Train Advisors?

Capacity-building missions aimed at strengthening host nation capacities in weak and/or conflict-affected states are a critical and an increasingly prevalent instrument for building long-term peace and stability.

• While the technical expertise of the advisor is important, it is not enough to sup­port the implementation of long-term solutions which address gaps in capacity.
• Experienced advisors consistently indicate that their effectiveness depends heavily on possessing a set of attributes and skills that are distinct from technical expertise. These include the ability to gain trust from counterparts, acquiring and demonstrating an in-depth understanding of local realities, conducting capacity assessments, and adeptly navigating a complex web of international actors.

Advising Support Program Documents

USIP Advising Support Program Fact Sheet (coming soon!)

Partners

The USIP Advising Support Program has partnered with many deploying agencies and organizations to train advisors.

These include:
Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs · Interpeace · The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) · Ministry of Defense Advisors (MoDA) · ZIF Center for International Peace Operations · US Department of State International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL) · Scuola Superiore Sant’anna · AFPAK Hands · US Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group · NATO Joint Force Training Centre.

Supporting USG advisors through training and thought leadership

The Integrated Training for Advisors Program (ITAP) is an initiative led by the USIP Advising Support Program to train advisors from across USG Agencies together —both before deployment and on-the-ground in conflict-affected areas.

ITAP aims are:

• To enable the USG to provide assistance to foreign institutions with a light footprint and targeted approach that draws a strong return on investment.
• To strengthen the effectiveness and impact of USG advisors as capacity builders by imparting the advising skill set before they deploy.
• To promote mutual reinforcement, coordination of efforts, and broad-based effective capacity building activities.

ITAP activities include: facilitating pre-deployment trainings that bring together advisors from across the USG in an integrated learning environ­ment; hosting public events for the advising community at large; and convening policy-makers to advance the discussion on advising as an effective form of foreign assistance.

The ITAP Working Group

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ITAP Documents

ITAP Concept Paper

Project Team

Nadia Gerspacher, PhD
Director of Security Sector Education, Academy, Applied Conflict Transformation Program
ngerspacher@usip.org

Stanislava Mladenova
Lead Instructor, Advising Support Program, Academy, Applied Conflict Transformation Program
smladenova@usip.org

Nicholas Weiland
Program Specialist, Academy, Applied Conflict Transformation Program
nweiland@usip.org