Data-informed protection of civilians: Highlights from the UNSSC-DPO Boot Camp

From 12 February to 21 March 2025, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), in collaboration with Build Up and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) Protection of Civilians (POC) team, hosted the Integrated Data Analytics for the Protection of Civilians Boot Camp — an intensive and highly practical course designed to build data capacity and advance collaboration among professionals working in peacekeeping  contexts. 

Drawing on the Peace and Security Hub’s commitment to strengthening analytical skills and fostering integrated, inclusive approaches to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, the Boot Camp provided participants with the tools to harness data to inform the protection of civilians. This course brought together 27 participants from diverse professional backgrounds across the five peacekeeping missions mandated to protect civilians from the threat of physical violence: UNMISS, UNISFA, UNIFIL, MONUSCO, and MINUSCA. With a strong focus on the use of data to inform operational planning and protection strategies, the Boot Camp offered a unique blend of theory, applied tools, and peer learning. Through live webinars, collaborative group work, and hands-on assignments, participants explored how integrated data analytics can support more effective POC programming and response. 

A practical, immersive learning journey 

Over the six-week period, participants were introduced to a range of topics and tools, including: 

• The fundamentals of integrated data analytics within the UN context 

• Types of data relevant to POC (event data, casualties data, patrol data, etc.) 

• Ethical data management, privacy, and responsible use in sensitive environments 

• Visual storytelling with data, using Power BI and Excel 

• Real-world case studies and public datasets to apply new skills in context 

• Collaborative presentations of dashboard-based insights 

The course culminated in a final assignment, where participants applied the skills learnt to construct a visualized data story using their chosen case study using Power BI dashboards. Examples of areas of focus included ‘Lebanon ceasefire analysis’, ‘Civil displacement in Sudan’ and ‘Data analytics to assess trends related to the threats civilians are facing’.  Drawing on real-world scenarios and lessons from the course, they presented their findings in a final class session - demonstrating not just technical skills, but also critical thinking and communication abilities essential to support  field-level decision-making. 

A community of practice in the making 

What made this cohort truly stand out was the collaborative spirit they brought to the experience. Participants were eager to share knowledge, ask questions, and exchange insights drawn from their own operational contexts. Many brought examples of their daily work, datasets they manage, and challenges they face in using data to understand and inform the protection of civilians — adding real-world depth to every session. 

Despite varying levels of technical experience — from beginner to advanced — participants supported each other throughout, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment. This peer learning approach not only made the course more impactful but also planted the seeds of a growing community of practice in data for protection.

What participants said 

Feedback from the course evaluation was overwhelmingly positive. Participants highlighted the relevance of the content, the high quality of facilitation, and the value of working with real datasets and case studies. Many appreciated the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with Power BI and to deepen their understanding of how integrated data can inform POC interventions. Many expressed enthusiasm about applying these new skills to their work, underscoring the practical impact of the boot camp. 

Ewa Turyk-Mazurek from UNIFIL reflected on this experience, sharing that:  

“For me, personally, among the strengths was the central theme of the training, i.e. POC. Not much else would encourage me to dig into PIVOT, POWER BI and other such tools right now. I did the first cohort of the e-analytics course with the DPPA Innovation Cell, and it was fun and eye-opening, but with POC being pretty much everything that matters these days in South Lebanon, the data analytics angle helped to focus on it even more.” 

Anne Herrmann from UNMISS echoed this sentiment, noting that:  

“It gave me new skills and ideas to leverage data within my own field of conflict analysis and gave me greater confidence to also use open-source data and process it for data analysis.” 

Looking ahead 

As data continues to play an essential role in peace operations, courses like this are critical to building the capacity needed to translate data into action. UNSSC remains committed to equipping UN personnel with the skills and tools necessary to make evidence-based decisions that protect people and promote peace.  

The boot camp not only reflects the value of investing in data literacy for peace and security—it also demonstrates the power of bringing people together to learn, share, and innovate for greater impact. Building on the lessons learned from this edition, the training team is already working to further refine and expand future offerings. This includes developing more advanced courses for experienced practitioners, providing additional preparatory and self-paced materials, and exploring opportunities for in-person training to foster even deeper engagement and collaboration. 

By continuing to adapt and respond to the needs of professionals within the peace and security pillar, UNSSC and its partners aim to strengthen a growing community of practice in integrated data analytics for the peace and security pillar. Together, we are committed to advancing data-informed approaches that enhance the effectiveness and accountability of the UN system.