Efforts to help countries emerge from conflict need to consider the full spectrum of activities that support “sustaining peace” long after the UN peace operation has left the country. This means that the host government must be willing to support the post-conflict needs of the country and ensure that there is effective investment in sustaining peace and development following the departure of the UN peace operation. It also means that mission transition and exit should be planned for from the outset. Sustaining peace requires much broader engagement, beyond the host government, to foster inclusivity and dialogue throughout society with different individuals and groups, such as women’s and youth groups, civil society and the media.

An essential part of the efforts of the MLT to support post-conflict peacebuilding will be the consideration of simultaneous efforts to sustain peace by “preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of conflict”.[1] These efforts need to focus on building resil- ient national institutions, which poses both governance and develop- mental challenges. Moreover, an actively engaged civil society is just as important as formal government institutions. These reforms cannot be enforced by national and regional leaders from the top, but they will need to be engaged in the effort.

While a mission may be deployed to address particular threats to peace and security in a country, it may also face risks from other regional and global threats. Terrorism, transnational organized crime, drug traffick- ing and violent extremism know no borders. Marginalization, exclusion and unaddressed grievances present long-term threats to international peace and security.[2] Efforts to sustain peace must focus on addressing these two issues. Exclusion and injustice can stoke grievances and also need to be addressed. This requires a different approach to peace and conflict analysis that allows for inclusive ownership and for identifying the drivers of peace and conflict that need to be jointly addressed by the state and society. It also means that the MLT must constantly undertake peace and conflict analyses to maintain awareness of the threats and risks to the mission and its ability to implement its mandate.

Countries emerging from conflict have typically experienced significant socio-economic ruptures. Post-conflict intervention largely aims to repair these ruptures and lay the foundations for sustainable peace. It is about instilling or restoring the confidence of citizens in the state’s leadership and institutions. The immediate priorities are emergency assistance and early recovery, which will pave the way for longer-term development. From short-term emergency assistance and early recov- ery to longer-term development, it is fundamental to ensure that local authorities and agencies take ownership of these activities and the overall process. This requires investment and engagement at the earliest stages of the deployment of a UN peace operation.

Peace operations are not in the lead in any of these efforts. Many of these initiatives will be led by the UNCT. The mindset of the MLT should set a tone for the rest of the mission to work collaboratively with other actors on the ground, allowing them to lead in areas where they have a mandate or an advantage in doing so. Nonetheless, the presence of a peace operation should help to create a permissive environment for the improvement of essential infrastructure and incremental reform to social and economic life, all of which can lead to the creation of better employment opportunities for the local population. In addition, it can help to create the security conditions in which humanitarian assistance and a wide range of peace consolidation activities can take place. At the same time, a peace operation can offer direct support to the UN’s humanitarian and development agencies, not least through the provision of security and logistical capabilities. Furthermore, a multidimensional peacekeeping operation is expected to provide and support the framework outlined in the Capstone Doctrine, which assists all UN and other international actors in pursuing their activities in a coherent and coordinated manner.The MLT, especially the SRSG and the DSRSG-RC/HC, through good leadership should work to create the necessary political consensus, ensuring coordination among UN entities, mobilizing and maintaining donor funding, and marshalling support and engagement of key international players such as the World Bank, the IMF, the European Union and regional financial institutions.

Preconditions for success

  • A safe and secure environment, in which the local population can exist, and humanitarian or development actors can operate without the threat of physical violence or the lingering threat of ERW.
  • Freedom of movement for UN agencies, local populations and goods.
  • Freedom of information and expression through a free press and an engaged civil society.
  • The donor community remains engaged and is willing and able to provide adequate resources.
  • National authorities and local institutions are prepared to take ownership of recovery and development efforts and are supported in developing the requisite leadership and management skills.
  • Priorities are identified and agreed with national authorities and the international community.

Benchmarks

  • Many of these benchmarks are beyond the immediate responsibility of the mission.
  • Emergency assistance is delivered on a consistent basis, according to humanitarian principles, and is supported and facilitated by the host government.
  • Basic services are available to the general population, provided by government agencies where possible, and address the specific needs of women and youth.
  • The return of refugees and IDPs is voluntary, safe and dignified, and the host government and communities are willing and able to receive and reintegrate returnees.
  • The immediate impact of mines, ERW, and small arms and light weapons is addressed, with appropriate capacity building of national authorities to deal with the threat.
  • Humanitarian, recovery and development efforts are sensitive to gender, ethnic and other issues, and women, youth and minorities play an active role in implementing policies and programmes.
  • A strong legislative and judicial framework based on the rule of law upholds basic economic and social rights, gender equality and human rights, including freedom of expression.
  • Both the international community and general population have confidence in social, political and economic institutions.
  • Independent media is engaged, with press freedom and protections for journalists.
  • Youth are engaged in educational and employment programmes and included in political and civic engagement programmes.
  • Disarmament and demobilization of former combatants have been completed and reintegration initiated, along with effective follow-up processes.
  • Civil society groups and organizations have begun to emerge.

Outputs

In summary, the seven outputs that contribute to sustaining peace and supporting peacebuilding and development are:

  1. Secure and Effective Humanitarian Relief Efforts Supported
  2. Women’s Role in Peace and Security Promoted
  3. Youth Participation Supported
  4. Civil Society Engaged and Supported
  5. Return and Reintegration of Refugees and IDPs
  6. Transition from Recovery to Development Enabled
  7. Independent Media Engaged
  1. UN General Assembly and Security Council, ‘Report of the Secretary-General: Peacebuilding and sustaining peace’, A/72/707-S/2018/43, 18 January 2018. ↵
  2. President of the UN General Assembly, ‘Chair’s Summary’, High-level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, 24–26 April 2018, p. 3. ↵

License

Considerations for Mission Leadership in United Nations Peace Operations Copyright © 2021 by International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book