A standardised police roster system is critical for the African Standby Force

Contemporary peacekeeping operations necessitate an extensive range of expertise, and meeting the demand for police officers with the requisite expertise for the increasingly complex mandates of peacekeeping has become a great challenge. Consequently, the demand for enhanced systems to facilitate the recruitment and selection of police experts has also increased. Hence, it is of a high priority to establish and operationalise effective roster systems that ensure easy identification and rapid deployment of suitable police personnel.

The African Standby Force (ASF) policy framework document provides for the development of integrated roster systems at continental, regional and national levels, from which the African Union (AU) may recruit competent personnel for its various missions. ASF roadmaps and consultative forums have not only underlined the significance of the roster system, but also urged for it to be quickly established. Despite the consensus on the need for an integrated roster system for the ASF police, such a system has not yet been established.

With the aim to inform and assist in the establishment and operationalisation of a standardised and integrated police roster system, this policy brief outlines the proposed features and specifications of such a system. It also provides insights into the system’s establishment, operationalisation and management processes