Description
The NATO SFA COE is a multinational entity with Italy, Albania and Slovenia as Sponsoring Nations, and Austria as Contributing Participant.
The project started in 2016 following the proposal from the Italian Minister of Defence for the creation of a NATO SFA COE with the aim to promote Stability and Reconstruction efforts for any crisis scenario and to become a SFA focal point for the Alliance.
The NATO SFA COE is not part of the NATO Command Structure (NCS), but forms part of the wider framework supporting the NATO Command Arrangements (NCA).
The Centre was formally created on the 13th of December 2017 with the MOU signature between the Sponsoring Nations and Allied Command Transformation and officially obtained the NATO accreditation from the North Atlantic Council on the 3rd of December 2018.
The NATO Security Force Assistance Centre of Excellence (NATO SFA COE) is located in the building “Villa” within the Infantry school barracks in Cesano di Roma, led by a Director with the rank of Colonel, assisted by a Deputy Director and a Chief of Staff who has at his direct dependencies a Plans and Ops section and 4 departments corresponding to the 4 pillars of the NATO transformation:
– Concept Development and Experimentation.
– The Doctrine Development and Standards.
– Education and Training.
– Analysis and Lessons Learned.
To complete the structure, in support of the Director, there is a Support Section, a Financial section, the Legal advisor.
In particular the Plans and Ops section gives advice to the NATO SFA COE COS for interacting with NATO bodies and International Organizations (UN, EAS, DPKO) and it coordinates with the ACT TNB for the development of the Program of Work. The section contributes to the growth of the Centre’s external cooperation with the main stakeholders.
Concept Development and Experimentation Branch is responsible for initiation, coordination, development, coherence and management of the CD&E and CD&E-related Programmes, Projects, and activities. It monitors and analyses new trends, strategies, processes, procedures and methodologies that helps the identification and initiation of new concepts.
The Doctrine Development and Standards Branch supports the multinational effort in developing doctrines, publications, and other documents in order to facilitate common understanding in fulfilling SFA activities in every operational environment. It is also responsible for supporting and contributing to the development and validation of NATO policies, doctrines and standards which require SFA expertise.
Analysis and Lessons Learned Branch analyzes and studies Lesson learned (LL) and Best Practices (BP); disseminates, shares and publishes LL; works in close cooperation with the Joint Analysis Lesson Learned Centre in Lisbon . In the CA & GA Section, the Gender expert gives advice on how to integrate international framework and guidelines concerning gender in military processes, procedures and products, assesses risks and occurrence of Conflict Related Sexual and Gender Based Violence and recommends actions and gives support to the Educational and Training branch in Gender perspective.
Education and Training Branch provides education and training on site at the NATO SFA COE, instructors and Mobile Education and Training Teams (METT), develops and delivers courses, workshops, seminars, supporting NATO SFA operations and training, NATO courses accredited. A psychology provides expertise for the selection and for defining the figures/positions of the personnel dedicated to SFA activities, in order to give support in the planning of educational programs and in the doctrine matters, to support the doctrine branch in defining the characteristics of the SFA operator.