The kick-off event was opened by the CoE’s Director Volker Jacoby, who welcomed the fifty participants from nine civilian CSDP missions to their mentoring journey. The first female Deputy Civilian Operations Commander and Chief of Staff Birgit Loeser (CPCC) inspired the participants by sharing personal experiences from throughout her career. 

The CSDP Mentoring Programme for Women is a new initiative offered to international personnel in civilian CSDP missions by the European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE). It offers support and guidance for mentees and mentors in a structured seven-month mentoring programme. The CSDP Women’s Mentoring Programme is a pilot project, developed and conducted in close cooperation with the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the EEAS Directorate serving as the Operational Headquarters for the civilian CSDP missions, and in consultation with the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia. 

In today’s kick-off event the future mentors and mentees got a chance to introduce themselves and get to know each other in an interactive session guided by inclusive leadership coach Lena Moll. In the span of the next seven months, mentors and mentees will take part in monthly workshops complementing the regular meetings of the mentoring pairs.