The Rwanda Peace Academy in conjunction with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) will, today, start a three-day workshop on Environmental Security.

According to the Defence and Military Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Jill Rutaremara, the workshop will look into various environment related elements.

"The workshop will mainly focus on sustainable waste management, contaminated land and un-exploded ordinance, site investigation and cleanup,” Rutaremara said in a statement.

The statement adds that the workshop will include capacity building in inter-agency and cross-organisational collaboration on environmental security, planning and execution of environmental and engineering aspects of various military and peacekeeping operations.

"Another objective will be aimed at standardisation and compliance with international environmental practices, laws, guidance and standards, as well as the implications of various international laws and agreements.” reads the statement.

Participants at the workshop will be drawn from the Nation Bureau of Standards (NBS), the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Refugees and Disaster Preparedness, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Security, Kigali City Council, Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), Rwanda National Police and the Rwanda Defence Forces.

The statement adds in part that the workshop is expected to equip the participants with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively address environmental security challenges, either collectively or organisationally, in their various fields of work.

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