Located in The Hague, The Netherlands, the Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence has served as a leading resource for NATO and its partners since its accreditation in July 2007. The Centre plays a vital role in enhancing Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) across the Alliance by providing specialized expertise, training, and strategic insight into how military and civilian actors can work together effectively in complex operational environments.
The Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence supports Allied Command Transformation’s mission by helping NATO forces better understand and integrate civil considerations into military planning and execution. This enables a more comprehensive approach to addressing security challenges, whether during peacekeeping, crisis response, or conflict, and is a critical aspect of becoming a Multi-Domain Operations-Enabled Alliance by 2030.
Advancing NATO’s Civil-Military Capability
At the heart of this Centre of Excellence’s work is a commitment to ensuring that NATO personnel are equipped to operate in environments where military and non-military efforts must be closely aligned. Through its Programme of Work, the Centre leads efforts in five core areas:
- Education and Training
- Analysis and Lessons Learned
- Concept Development
- Doctrine Development
- Experimentation
As NATO’s official custodian for the Civil-Military Cooperation discipline, this Centre of Excellence also serves as the Discipline Lead for the topic within the European Union, ensuring coherence across organizations and supporting joint interoperability.
Shaping Doctrine and Practice
One of the Centre’s most significant contributions is its stewardship of Allied Joint Publication 3.19, NATO’s official doctrine on Civil-Military Cooperation, which was most recently updated and ratified in June 2025. As the custodian of this publication, this Centre of Excellence works closely with NATO commands, national forces, and civilian partners to ensure the doctrine reflects current realities and evolving needs.
To support widespread understanding and implementation, the Centre continues its “roadshow” campaign which is a series of outreach efforts to explain and promote the updated definition of Civil-Military Cooperation and its broader relevance, leading to a more interoperable Alliance.
Bringing Together Civil and Military Voices
The Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence hosts two flagship events each year:
- The Annual Discipline Conference, held in June, brings together experts to coordinate training and policy development across NATO and the European Union communities.
- The Civil-Military Cooperation Foresight Conference, held in September, explores the future of Civil-Military Cooperation in light of global security trends and societal change.
In November of this year, the Centre will also act as the official host for the Multi-Domain Operations – Learning from NATO Special Forces Conference. As NATO continues to refine its approach to synchronizing military and non-military effects, the Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence plays a distinct and valuable role in advancing this integration.
These gatherings reflect the Centre of Excellence’s unique role as a thought leader and integrator, helping shape how NATO prepares for the challenges of tomorrow by aligning military efforts with civilian realities.
To learn more or engage with the Civil-Military Centre of Excellence, visit their official website or follow their presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.