44 Team Leaders Trained for Operational Excellence

As part of its efforts to modernize its protection forces, Upemba National Park (UNP) has reached a key milestone. Between October and December 2025, the Kafwi training center hosted 44 rangers for an intensive leadership and operational capacity-building program. The training, conducted in two phases (October 20 to November 14 and November 25 to December 19), aimed to provide the UNP with a solid command structure. The objective is clear: to transform team and section leaders into essential pillars capable of managing complex operations with full autonomy.

"They serve as the vital link between the headquarters, which defines the strategy, and its concrete application in the field," emphasized Mr. Pierre de Legge, Chief of Instruction.

For the Anti-Poaching Unit (LAB), the stakes go beyond technical skills; it is about fostering a culture of accountability. Officer Jean de Dieu Andavo, deputy commander of the LAB, noted: "This training enables leaders to carry out their duties with increased precision. By gaining a better understanding of their obligations and the park's expectations, they significantly improve the overall leadership within our ranks."

The 44 participants completed a rigorous curriculum blending theory and practice, structured around several essential pillars:

• Tactics and Intervention: LAB Tactics, orders framework, radio communication, and intervention techniques (Marksmanship/TIR and Operational Intervention/TIOR).

• Ethics and Governance: Human Rights, general disciplinary regulations, and command pedagogy (authority training).

• Technical and Monitoring: Biomonitoring, topography, first aid, and the use of new technologies.

• Intelligence and Community Relations: Population information, intelligence gathering, and physical training.

This holistic program ensures that team leaders are not just field agents, but resourceful managers and protectors of human rights, guaranteeing a sustainable "renaissance" for Upemba National Park.