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During an event cohosted by IPI and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences on July 20th, panelists discussed the challenging global context for delivering humanitarian health responses, as well as specific issues such as the need to address gender-based violence in humanitarian health responses, the imperative to localize humanitarian action, and the opportunities and risks at the intersection of health, development, and peace.

The Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace notes “conflict and disease can intersect in multiple ways and the risk posed are currently not addressed holistically and in a coordinated manner.” The discussion, which featured participants from a range of backgrounds, contributed to an enhanced systematic understanding of these constraints.

In May 2023, in partnership with MIT Press, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences released a special issue of the journal Daedalus, “Delivering Humanitarian Health Services in Violent Conflicts,” as part of the Academy’s project on Rethinking the Humanitarian Health Response to Violent Conflict. As the launch of this special issue, the policy forum brought together academics, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss the contemporary challenges and opportunities in humanitarian health delivery.

President of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband set the scene by highlighting two major trends in global politics. The first trend is the “growing global risks in a hyper-connected world,” and secondly, political/geopolitical fragmentation, a trend which exacerbates those risks.

Addressing the health needs of people on the move requires rethinking the fluidity of health systems and the importance to expand the paradigm of the current health system and framework. Fouad Fouad, Associate Professor of Public Health Practice at the American University of Beirut suggested a potential “health system beyond borders,” which could foster a more integrated response. International health NGOs could be uniquely well positioned to operationalize commitments to localize humanitarian health delivery and better support actors in leadership roles, noted Jennifer Welsh, Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security at McGill University. However, there is a lack of data to assess how localization could work in the humanitarian health sector and a need for more public opinion research on local populations. Welsh reminded participants that there are preexisting tools that could be enhanced.

IPI non-resident fellow Dirk Druet expressed that “given the realities of where health emergencies are likely to take place in the future, adopting emergency humanitarian responses to operating in conflict situations is absolutely critical to helping the most vulnerable.” In the realm of emergency health situations, the international community lacks clarity on the practical implications of adopting a conflict-informed approach.

Daedalus is the Academy’s open-access quarterly journal, featuring multidisciplinary, authoritative essays centered on a theme or subject and drawing on the intellectual capacity of Academy members and outside experts. Please visit here to see the May 2023 issue.

Welcoming/Opening Remarks:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, International Peace Institute
David Oxtoby, President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Panelists:
David Miliband, President, International Rescue Committee
Jennifer Welsh, Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security, McGill University; Project Cochair, Rethinking the Humanitarian Health Response to Violent Conflict
Fouad Fouad, Associate Professor of Public Health Practice, American University of Beirut (virtual)
Dirk Druet, Affiliate Researcher, McGill University; Non-Resident Fellow, International Peace Institute (virtual)

Moderator:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

Closing Remarks:
Paul Wise, Richard E. Behrman Professor of Child Health and Society, Stanford University; Project Cochair, Rethinking the Humanitarian Health Response to Violent Conflict

As part of MONUSCO’s mandate renewal in December 2022, the UN Security Council called for the secretary-general to outline pathways for the mission’s transition and withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along with possible options for the future reconfiguration of the UN’s presence in the country, by July 2023. This past year, the rise of the M23 and other non-state armed groups in eastern DRC has led to the deployment of regional and bilateral forces, while rising anti-MONUSCO sentiment has further restricted the UN’s operating space. Following widespread and lethal civilian demonstrations against the mission’s perceived ineffectiveness throughout 2022, the government of the DRC notified the UN Security Council of its intention to reassess the agreed timetable for the mission’s departure, citing the deep displeasure of the Congolese people.

In this context, the International Peace Institute (IPI), Security Council Report, and the Stimson Center cohosted a roundtable on June 16, 2023, to discuss the UN’s presence in the DRC in the short and longer term. Convened under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution, this workshop brought together member states, UN officials, independent experts, and civil society stakeholders. The discussion sought to inform the UN Secretariat’s planning and discussions among UN member states on the prioritization and sequencing of MONUSCO’s transition and prompt creative thinking on the UN’s civilian, police, and military reconfiguration in the country, taking into account the deployment of regional and bilateral forces.

Participants raised several key considerations for MONUSCO’s transition and the UN’s reconfiguration:

• Prioritize a gradual, responsible, and conditions-based transition that addresses benchmarks 1–4 and 15 in the joint DRC-UN transition plan, emphasizing the protection of civilians as a priority task;
• Develop tailored transition strategies for each of the eastern provinces in collaboration with the UN country team (UNCT), the host government, and local civil society that reflect the unique conflict drivers and dynamics in each region;
• Call upon member states in the region to uphold their political commitment to the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, ensuring the DRC’s and the region’s long-term stability;
• Urge member states to provide innovative, robust funding that enables the transfer of programmatic work from the mission to the UNCT, where appropriate;
• Continue to support the delivery of humanitarian aid and DDR processes where possible;
• Provide technical expertise in the lead-up to national elections slated for December 2023; and
• Adopt a “right fit,” tailored approach for the UN’s longer-term reconfiguration that embraces creative thinking, goes beyond a military approach, and addresses the drivers of conflict.

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The historic decision on loss and damage (L&D) at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) calls for a new fund and funding arrangements focused on addressing L&D. It also tasks a Transitional Committee with preparing recommendations on the new fund and funding arrangements for adoption at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. IPI President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein describes this decision made at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh as one of the most significant developments since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

IPI together with Oxford Climate Policy cohosted a policy forum on June 30th entitled “Innovative Finance for Loss and Damage: Capitalizing the New Fund.” During the event, participants discussed deficiencies and shortfalls in L&D funding and underscored innovative ways to capitalize on the new fund. Panelists also emphasized the need to take into account the global economic and political context, including the effects of COVID-19 and other crises.

With roughly six months left until COP28, the Transitional Committee will need to work efficiently to achieve its mandate, which includes determining the fund’s financial inputs or sources of capitalization. A new fund for addressing loss and damage will almost certainly require capitalization through a combination of old and new paths. Based on trends in official development assistance, contributions from developed country governments, though important, are unlikely to be sufficient to capitalize a new fund at the scale needed. Thus, it will likely be necessary to include new or “innovative” sources of finance. One idea is to combine conventional (public) contributions from donor countries and contributions from private donors using a specially designed tax, as countries have done with air travel to fund Unitaid. Such a tax could involve levies on air travel, bunker fuel, fossil-fuel extraction, greenhouse-gas emissions, or financial transactions. Another idea is to “frontload” contributions through the issuance of bonds, as the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) has done with its “vaccine bonds.”

Discussants asserted that multiple solutions are needed and presented several innovative options. IPI Research Fellow Michael Franczak noted the failure of developed countries to meet Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitments and introduced the option of a shipping levy. According to World Bank findings, putting a price on carbon could raise 40 to 60 billion dollars from the shipping industry between 2025 and 2050. While 22 countries have declared support for the principle of a levy on carbon emissions, many developing countries have been wary of tax burden transfers. Franczak noted the need for common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR) to effectively operationalize a carbon tax levy.

“The adverse impacts that we are already experiencing are both attributed and associated with changes in global systems,” stated Koko Warner Director of the Global Data Institute, International Organization for Migration. In many cases these impacts are irreversible and deeply challenging for our financial systems, we need to think about flexibility in the real economy. Long recognized as an authority on loss and damage, Managing Director of Oxford Climate Policy and Director of the European Capacity Building Initiative Benito Müller discussed his proposal for international climate solidarity levies and levy on air travel to finance the Loss and Damage Fund. Chris Canavan put forward the idea of using bonds or frontloading to make the Loss and Damage Fund’s financing immediately available. Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Colby College Stacy-Ann Robinson affirmed that the conversation about innovative finance for loss and damage is about livelihood: “People matter and we need to center equity and justice.”

The panel contextualized for the New York audience current discussions on innovative finance for L&D, including within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Paris at the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, and at the International Maritime Organization, as well as best practices and examples from existing entities like Unitaid and IFFIm.

Opening Remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO, International Peace Institute

Speakers:
Michael Franczak, Research Fellow, International Peace Institute
Koko Warner, Director, Global Data Institute, International Organization for Migration
Benito Müller, Managing Director of Oxford Climate Policy and Director of the European Capacity Building Initiative
Chris Canavan, Senior Advisor, Cygnum Capital
Stacy-Ann Robinson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Colby College

Moderator:
Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Peace Institute

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How have recent conflicts impacted global peace and what can the changing geopolitical landscape tell us about the likelihood of future conflict? On June 28th, IPI together with the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) cohosted a policy forum entitled “A Measure of Peace: Key Findings from the 2023 Global Peace Index,” to address these questions and discuss how they could impact multilateral efforts and national priorities of member states in the future.

Produced by the IEP, the Global Peace Index (GPI) is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. It presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on trends in peace, the economic value of peace, and how to develop peaceful societies. The GPI covers 163 countries comprising 99.7 percent of the world’s population, using twenty-three qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, and measures the state of peace across three domains: the level of societal safety and security; the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict; and the degree of militarization.

Michael Collins, IEP Executive Director Americas provided an overview of key findings from the 17th edition of the GPI. Collins noted that peacefulness has continued to deteriorate this year and is the lowest it has been since the inception of the index. On a positive note, there have been improvements in peacefulness, which include a reduction in political terror, and surprisingly, in terms of military expenditure. While there has been an increase in military expenditure, in terms of GDP it has decreased on a global average. Unfortunately, the 2023 GPI found that “expenditure on peacebuilding and peacekeeping totaled $34.1 billion in 2022, which equals only 0.4 percent of military spending.”

Chief of Peacebuilding Strategy and Partnerships Roselyn Akombe stressed that because the economic impact of conflict is so vast, we need to rethink and focus on peace. Akombe also outlined four takeaways from the GPI, beginning by emphasizing that “numbers count” and economists provide valuable contributions by effectively quantifying peace and providing the data that situates where we are in terms of peace. Second, the GPI is making a business case for prevention. Measuring the cost of war and comparing returns of investment demonstrate the need to collectively work towards peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Third, through reading the 2023 GPI and looking at the key asks of the UN Secretary-General in the New Agenda for Peace, there exists confirmation that we are on the right path. Ending on a positive note, Akombe highlighted that when there are systematic responses towards building peace, it makes a difference. She cited the example of terrorism, which has decreased as a result of concerted efforts to prevent violent extremism and address its underlying causes.

In terms of the devastation that we are witnessing in the world, the trend of internationalized intra-state conflict is egregious. IPI Vice President Adam Lupel expressed gratitude for IPI’s partnership with IEP and appreciatively acknowledged IEP’s work on the positive findings of peacefulness. Lupel and Collings further discussed the positive peace angle, clarifying that while the 2023 GPI found 84 countries became more peaceful, 74 countries became less peaceful. It is much more difficult to build peace than it is to destroy it.

Welcome Remarks:
H.E. Mitchell Peter Fifield, Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN

Speaker:
Michael Collins, Executive Director Americas, Institute for Economics and Peace

Discussant:
Roselyn Akombe, Chief of Peacebuilding Strategy and Partnerships, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs

Moderator:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, International Peace Institute

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Spring 2023 marked the fifth anniversary of the publication of the flagship UN-World Bank report “Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict.” The report reviewed conflict trends, drew lessons from emerging research, including growing evidence on the importance of addressing patterns of exclusion and inequality, and building on 19 case studies, identified lessons of successful national prevention efforts. The report also made recommendations for ways to strengthen the international prevention architecture, including early warning and early response. Over the past five months, the UN and the World Bank have benefited from a series of reflections from Member States, think tanks, civil society, and multilateral and regional partners on the relevance of the findings of this report.

On June 26th, in partnership with PBSO and the World Bank, IPI cohosted a policy forum entitled “Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict: 5th Anniversary of Pathways for Peace Report,” to reflect and discuss its contemporary significance and ways forward for prevention and peacebuilding in rapidly evolving global and regional contexts. During opening remarks, Farhad Peiker, Acting Special Representative to the UN World Bank Group, highlighted several noteworthy advancements catalyzed by the report. These advancements include a notable shift in the perceptions of fragility, conflict, and violence within the World Bank, UN, and other institutions. Acknowledging that these issues pose critical developmental obstacles that threaten efforts to alleviate extreme poverty in both low- and middle-income countries. The influence of the Pathways for Peace initiative has prompted the World Bank to actively incorporate and prioritize the integration of the concept of a “livable planet” into its core mission and vision, while still prioritizing the eradication of extreme poverty.

The Pathways for Peace initiative has produced a series of papers as well as consultative workshops and digital exchanges hosted by the Cairo Center (CCCPA), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESWCA), the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS), the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Quaker UN Office. Kavita Desai, Quaker UN representative outlined some significant opportunities to strengthen the international architecture: First is the New Agenda for Peace which presents the opportunity to enhance peacebuilding and prevention, and incorporate innovation which can help put prevention back at the heart of the UN’s work; Second is the follow-up to last year’s resolution on financing for peacebuilding which creates space to achieve more prevention-focused financing strategies that also offer the flexibility to improve evidence bases and be informed by civil society; Third is strengthening existing data tools and coordination among them, including monthly regional reviews along with recovery peacebuilding assessments, early warning mechanisms and other analytical tools.

In the second session, participants focused on identifying and addressing the shortcomings of the Pathways for Peace report, particularly with regard to issues of exclusion and inequality. H.E. Arlene B. Tickner, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN, drew on her academic expertise to shed light on these gaps, highlighting the case of Colombia’s peacebuilding efforts as an illustrative example. Participants also engaged in a comprehensive discussion on various approaches to peace and the different methodologies to measure it. IPI Senior Adviser Youssef Mahmoud played a crucial role in facilitating the latter part of the discussion, stressing the importance of moving beyond the restoration of norms and instead emphasizing the need for their transformation.

Overall, the event distilled some of the lessons of these reflections, identified critical outcomes for prevention and peacebuilding, and provided a hybrid space to discuss future opportunities to reinforce shared prevention and peacebuilding lessons in rapidly evolving global and regional contexts.

Welcoming/Closing Remarks:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, International Peace Institute
Farhad Peikar, Acting Special Representative to the UN, World Bank Group
Elizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support
Asif Khan, Director of Policy and Mediation Division, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Franck Bousquet, Deputy Director, Fragile and Conflict-affected States, International Monetary Fund

Speakers/Moderators:
Roselyn Akombe, Chief of Peacebuilding Strategy and Partnerships, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Adam Day, Head of the Geneva Office, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (virtual)
Richard Gowan, UN Director, International Crisis Group
H.E. Arlene B. Tickner, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN
Saji Prelis, Child and Youth Programmes, Search for Common Ground
Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Adviser, International Peace Institute

Discussants:
Representatives from the Cairo Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS), Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and Quaker UN Office

IPI is very pleased to announce that Jean Todt was elected as Chair of IPI’s Board of Directors on June 21, 2023. Mr. Todt has served as IPI’s interim Chair since March 6, 2023. IPI is grateful for the contributions he has provided to the organization since first joining the Board in 2015 and is looking forward to his leadership as the organization expands the breadth of its work on pivotal issues of our time, including climate action.

Mr. Todt is a well-known and respected philanthropist who devotes his time to several charitable causes. He is one of the Founders and Vice-President of the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière (ICM), an institute focused on medical research for brain and spinal cord disorders.

He started his career in 1966 as a rally co-driver and participated in the World Rally Championship that he won with Talbot Lotus in 1981. Between 1981 and 1990, he was Director of Racing and Founder of Peugeot Talbot Sport and then Director of Sporting Activities of PSA Peugeot Citroën, between 1990 and 1993. Between 1993 and 2006, he was Team Principal of Formula 1, Ferrari. He then became Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari between 2006 and 2009.

He is the former President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and was first elected to this post in October 2009 and re-elected in 2013 and 2017 until 2021.

Mr. Todt was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the United Nations Association of New York in 2016 and the Lifetime Achievement for Contribution to Road Safety by the European Commission in 2022.

At present, Jean Todt holds the position of UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety and is deeply committed to IPI’s mission. He succeeds the Honorable Kevin Rudd who served as Chair since June 1, 2018.

IPI President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein strongly endorses this decision:

“Jean Todt is a visionary. His successful leadership in business, including his role as the leader of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)—a complex international organization—and his commitment to improving the lives of others, particularly through his philanthropy and work as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, have perfectly prepared him to lead IPI as Chair of the Board. We are honored to work together as we address the most pressing challenges facing our planet today.”

In 2016, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Stimson Center, and Security Council Report established their now longstanding project “Prioritization and Sequencing of Security Council Mandates.” Since the project’s inception, more than thirty closed-door workshops have been convened with the aim of making UN peace operations more effective by helping member-state representatives, UN staff, and independent experts analyze how mandates can be adapted to reflect overarching political objectives and better respond to political processes and operational dynamics on the ground.

Given the interest in continuing this project, the project partners decided to convene a lessons-learned workshop to capture feedback and document suggestions for improving the project. This note summarizes observations raised during the first part of the workshop, focusing on current trends, practices, and dynamics related to the mandating process within the Security Council and its impact on UN peace operations. Overall, the discussion revolved around three main issues: the increasingly polarized Security Council and its mandating practices, the role of elected members (E10) and host states in the penholder system, and the effective prioritization and sequencing of mandates.

The following were key points from the discussion regarding future Security Council mandates:

• Participants emphasized that divides in the Security Council have hindered the ability of UN missions to effectively carry out their mandates. They therefore suggested that the Secretariat be more involved in conversations between member states and peacekeeping missions while cautioning against the potential divides this could create between missions and host states.
• Participants recommended an increase in communication between penholders and host states during the mandate negotiation process but warned against the possibility of host governments exerting undue pressure during negotiations.
• Participants agreed that streamlining mandate language has allowed missions to adapt to evolving situations on the ground but asserted that it is still too early to determine the full impact of cuts in language, particularly on priority activities like human rights, the protection of civilians, and women, peace, and security.

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The UN Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in June 2023. Ten years after MINUSMA was established, the mission is at a critical juncture. As implementation of the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali remains stalled, there is no longer “a peace to keep,” and mistrust is growing between Mali’s traditional partners and the country’s transitional authorities. These political challenges, alongside access restrictions, tensions over the mission’s human rights reporting, and the withdrawal or planned withdrawal of some countries’ peacekeeping contingents, have undermined the mission’s ability to implement its strategic priorities. The upcoming negotiations will also unfold in the context of broader geopolitical tensions in the Security Council.

In this context, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Stimson Center, and Security Council Report co-hosted a roundtable discussion on May 18, 2023. This roundtable offered a platform for member states, UN officials, civil society stakeholders, and independent experts to share their assessments of the situation in Mali in a frank and collaborative manner. The discussion was intended to help the Security Council make more informed decisions on the prioritization and sequencing of MINUSMA’s mandate, as well as the mission’s strategic orientation and actions on the ground.

Participants largely agreed that MINUSMA’s mandated priorities are still relevant to the UN’s overall engagement in the country, even amid security concerns and difficult negotiations with the host state. They recommended that the Security Council focus on providing guidelines for the maintenance of the current number of uniformed personnel with a focus on strategic priorities and a consolidated footprint. In renewing MINUSMA’s mandate, the council will likely need to consider the following issues:

• Prioritizing the identification of new troop-contributing countries (TCCs) to ensure the mission is operating at full capacity, particularly countries with strong self-protection capabilities;
• Continuing to engage with the host state where possible, including in de-confliction of troop movements, training on human rights, election support, and support to the stabilization strategy for central Mali;
• Promoting host authorities’ compliance with the status of forces agreement (SOFA) and ending restrictions on flights and ground movements;
• Working to rebuild commitment to the 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation among the signatory parties and stepping up engagement on cease-fire monitoring mechanisms;
• Considering shifting toward a more mobile posture that could allow the mission to be more proactive in protecting civilians while reducing the resources devoted to self-protection;
• Remaining committed to the mission’s human rights mandate and adherence to the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy; and
• Investing further in strategic communications and community engagement initiatives to clarify the mission’s mandate and counter negative narratives about the mission, including in parts of the country where the mission is less active.

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In March 2023, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for a twelve-month period. In parallel, the council adopted Resolution 2679 (2023), which requested that the UN secretary-general provide the Security Council with an integrated, independent assessment of the international community’s approach to Afghanistan by November 17, 2023. Two years after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, the council identified the need for an independent assessment to make recommendations for the international community’s united reengagement with Afghanistan.

In this context, the International Peace Institute (IPI) hosted a roundtable on May 16, 2023, to discuss the independent assessment process and provide input from humanitarian experts during the preparatory phase of the assessment. This roundtable provided a platform for exchanges between humanitarian organizations, the UN Secretariat, member states, civil society groups, and independent experts, including those based in Geneva and Afghanistan. The discussion offered a chance to depoliticize discussions and unite behind a single strategy at a time when the Taliban are playing on divisions within the Security Council.

The participants’ recommendations for the independent assessment team included:

• Ensure the team includes humanitarian and gender experts;
• Facilitate an inclusive, meaningful, and safe process;
• Avoid duplicating other efforts and leverage existing platforms;
• Account for the diversity and complexity of the humanitarian sector;
• Consider the broader challenges facing the humanitarian sector;
• Make recommendations for a sustainable response that goes beyond humanitarian action; and
• Produce a strategic report rather than a detailed operational roadmap.

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The historic decision on loss and damage (L&D) at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) calls for a new fund and funding arrangements focused on addressing L&D. It also tasks a Transitional Committee to prepare recommendations on the new fund and funding arrangements for adoption at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. This decision reflects a recognition that existing funding arrangements are grossly inadequate to address the escalating scale of L&D. Addressing L&D will require both enhancing these existing arrangements and creating a new fund and funding arrangements, forming a mosaic of solutions across countries, institutions, and markets.

This paper aims to aid the Transitional Committee and other stakeholders by providing an initial sketch of that mosaic. First, it examines existing arrangements, modalities, and sources of funding for addressing L&D from UN humanitarian agencies, multilateral development banks and international financial institutions, and insurance and bond markets. Second, it proposes reforms to existing arrangements that would address key finance gaps and bottlenecks. Third, it identifies elements of a new L&D fund that would complement existing arrangements and make use of innovative finance (including levies and bond issuances) to operate at scale.

With roughly six months left until COP28, the Transitional Committee will need to work efficiently to achieve its mandate, which includes determining the fund’s institutional arrangements, modalities, structure, governance, sources of funding, and coordination and complementarity with existing funding arrangements. To this end, the paper recommends that it should:

• Begin securing financing before COP28, particularly innovative financing, which takes longer to secure than traditional donor contributions;
• Consult with the private sector to determine its role, including in the use of insurance mechanisms and risk pools, frontloading, and connections between L&D and jobs;
• Determine the form and role of triggers, including for slow-onset events;
• Consider how to address noneconomic losses, including displacement and forced migration; and
• Identify the actions, mechanisms, and institutions required to operationalize the fund, including an internal or external coordination mechanism.

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For more than three decades, radio stations have been an integral part of several UN peace operations, with UN radio stations currently active in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and South Sudan. These radio stations enable the UN to share reliable information with people in contexts where trustworthy information is often in short supply. Together with Fondation Hirondelle and UNESCO, IPI cohosted a policy forum on May 4th to discuss the role of UN radio and other media platforms in fostering a healthy information environment and supporting a robust local media landscape.

As information spreads faster than ever through digital channels, radio stations are being forced to evolve into multimedia platforms. “Radio is not typically the first platform that comes to mind when thinking about the ways we access information today, but in many countries, it remains a powerful tool” asserted IPI’s Editor and Research Fellow Albert Trithart.

UN radio stations have and continue to face an array of challenges. They need to strike a delicate balance between their role in serving the UN mission as a source of public information and strategic communications, on the one hand, and in serving the public as a source of impartial news, on the other. They also need to balance their role as a major media outlet with their responsibility to foster a broader network of independent local journalists that will outlast the presence of the UN mission. On top of this, UN radio stations face broader political challenges, including some missions’ deteriorating relationships with host states, shrinking civic space, threats to journalists, and disinformation campaigns.

The framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity aims to create free and safe environments for journalists and media workers worldwide. Within this framework, local and community radio stations often play a critical role in ensuring access to conflict-sensitive humanitarian and other public interest content. Andrea Cairola of UNESCO’s Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists Section provided insight on how geopolitical and technological changes have impacted UN Peacekeeping radio over the past three decades, specifically in relation to radio equipment and media liberalization since the late 1990s.

Chief of Communications and Public Information for UNMISS Ben Dotsei Malor raised the following critical question: “What do we do when missions leave?”

When the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) closed, Radio de la Paix, formerly ONUCI FM, was born out of a memorandum of understanding between the national government and the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace. Building an audience and gaining the trust of the population takes time. If a media landscape is left abruptly, people are deprived of a basic human right, the right to information, which is accompanied by many consequences. Transition strategies need to be built from day one insisted Caroline Vuillemin, Executive Director of Fondation Hirondelle.

This side event took place one day after World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd and comes as the UN assesses its approach to strategic communications in peacekeeping missions. The 2023 World Press Freedom Day marked the thirtieth anniversary of the proclamation of an international day to advocate for press freedom and took place under the theme “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights.” IPI’s event served as an occasion to reflect on the critical role that access to information, including through UN radio, plays in ensuring the enjoyment of all other human rights.

Speakers:
Caroline Vuillemin, Executive Director, Fondation Hirondelle
Ben Dotsei Malor, Director, Strategic Communications and Public Information, UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
Abdoulaye Sangaré, Director and Manager, Radio de la paix (Côte d’Ivoire)
Andrea Cairola, Senior Program Specialist, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists Section, UNESCO

Moderator:
Albert Trithart, Editor and Research Fellow, International Peace Institute

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Forced marriage is a distinct form of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) used strategically by armed groups. Although recent rulings at the International Criminal Court (ICC), such as the case of The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen, have built precedent for charging and convicting non-state armed groups with forced marriage as a distinct form of crime against humanity, policymakers and practitioners have more work to do to prevent and address the long-term impacts of forced marriage. Forced marriage not only directly affects forced wives (and their children) but also harms entire communities. Forced marriage can lead to cycles of violence and have negative repercussions on human security, including livelihoods, education, and health in communities.

IPI and UN Women cohosted a policy forum on April 19th to discuss the forms and impacts of forced marriage and provide key recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to address gaps, broaden perceptions, and disrupt binaries. This event launched a novel dataset documenting the use of forced marriage by non-state armed groups by IPI’s Head of Women, Peace and Security Program Phoebe Donnelly and PhD Candidate in Political Science at Duke University Emily Myers.

Pauline Brosch of UN Women provided a policy perspective and touched on strategies that the international community can take to better address forced marriage and other forms of conflict-related sexual violence. Teddy Atim of the Feinstein International Center, a practitioner and researcher of humanitarian emergencies and post-conflict settings, drew on examples of recovery from forced marriage in Northern Uganda to highlight multiplier effects, such as the likelihood of conflict-related sexual violence survivors experiencing ongoing violations in return communities.

The event aimed to help member states and UN officials align policies related to conflict-related sexual violence, like forced marriage, with the data and realities on the ground. Survivors must always have a seat at the table: “We can only address the root cause of forced marriage and other forms of conflict-related sexual violence if we involve survivors,” emphasized Victoria Nyanjura founder of Women in Action for Women and survivor of forced marriage.

In light of the discussions at the event, it is clear that there is a need for increased capacity and accountability. Forced marriage is a chronic feature of the political economy of war and takes place in contexts where rule of law has collapsed due to protracted conflict and instability, affirmed Alejandro Sánchez of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The launch event took place a day before the conference entitled “Catalyzing Change: Ongwen, Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes, and Intersectional Feminist Practice in International Criminal Justice.” This conference, hosted by the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights, in partnership with UN Women and others, analyzed the impact of the ICC case The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen on the treatment of forced marriage (and other sexual and gender-based crimes) in international law. Panelists at this conference included civil society and legal experts from Uganda, who were able to connect with key stakeholders in the UN community at IPI’s event.

Opening Remarks:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

Speakers:
Phoebe Donnelly, Senior Fellow and Head of Women, Peace, and Security Program, International Peace Institute
Emily Myers, PhD Candidate in Political Science at Duke University and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (virtual)
Teddy Atim, Visiting Fellow at the Feinstein International Center, Tufts University
Pauline Brosch, Policy Analyst, Peace and Security, UN Women
Victoria Nyanjura, Founder, Women in Action for Women (WAW)
Alejandro Sánchez, Deputy Team Leader, Programmes and Communications, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict

Moderator:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

Many non-state armed groups use forced marriage during armed conflict. This practice has been documented across all geographic regions, in every decade since the 1940s, and across armed groups with many different ideologies. Yet while policymakers, scholars, and practitioners recognize forced marriage as an important form of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), there are no frameworks for conceptualizing the frequency and range of forms of forced marriage that occur in conflict.

To fill that gap, this paper introduces an original dataset tracking forced marriage in armed conflict and uses the data and illustrative examples to divide forced marriage in armed conflict into three types: member–member forced marriage, member–civilian forced marriage, and civilian–civilian forced marriage. This dataset can be a tool for policymakers and practitioners to understand the impacts of forced marriage in armed conflict and better design prevention strategies and survivor-centered responses.

The report concludes with an overview of existing policy, legal, and programmatic responses to forced marriage in conflict settings, including by non-state armed groups, and provides recommendations for how these responses can better address this complex phenomenon:

• Data collection: Disaggregate data on CRSV by the form of violence (when possible), avoid linking sexual slavery and forced marriage, and gather more data on the unique needs of survivors of forced marriage.
• Criminal accountability: Continue prosecuting forced marriage as a distinct crime against humanity and promote the inclusion of forced marriage as a distinct crime against humanity during negotiations on the treaty on crimes against humanity.
• Sanctions: Continue to include information on CRSV in the reports of sanctions monitoring committees, ensure that sanctions listing criteria are applied against perpetrators of forced marriage, and ensure that every panel of experts includes at least one member with expertise on gender issues or CRSV.
• Reintegration: Factor the different types of forced marriage into the design of reintegration programs and provide support that considers the unique needs of individuals exiting forced marriage.

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The recent Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh made progress in some areas, but not nearly enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The world is still off-track to avert the most dangerous consequences of global warming. The latest study of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the “Climate Change 2023 Report,” brings into sharp focus the losses and damages being experienced now and expected to continue into the future, which are hitting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems especially hard. As the UN Secretary-General has stated, climate action is needed on all fronts.

The current way of life based on carbon is unsustainable and needs to change, affirmed IPI President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein during the policy forum on “Legal Avenues to Fight Climate Change,” cohosted by IPI and the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the UN on March 30th.

To accelerate climate action, there is growing momentum to explore legal avenues to address the climate emergency. Climate litigation is on the rise at the international, regional, and national levels, and several clear legal pathways are being pursued.

A request for an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was adopted by the UN General Assembly by consensus on March 29th. Ambassador of Vanuatu Odo Tevi outlined the lengthy but rewarding process it took to pass the resolution, spearheaded by Vanuatu which is among the Pacific Island countries facing the brunt of the climate crisis.

Climate change imposes an enormity of challenges on small island states. Payam Akhavan, Counsel to the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law discussed the December 12th request for an advisory opinion on the impact of climate change on oceans from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Akhavan provided a brief overview of the ITLOS proceedings, noting the prospect of a hearing in September 2023 which would unfold in parallel with the ICJ process. The ITLOS is anticipated to have an advisory opinion before the ICJ holds its first hearing, which could shape jurisprudence and raises questions surrounding harmonization between international judicial bodies.

Proposals to make ecocide—the destruction of the environment—a crime under international law are currently being considered. Kate Mackintosh, Executive Director of the Promise Institute for Human Rights highlighted Ukraine’s use of ecocide in its criminal code since the late 1990s and noted the study of the effects of sea-level rise on the law of the sea, statehood, and protection of affected persons already underway.

Global solidarity is key to preventing vulnerable countries from choosing between responding to climate change and their own development, affirmed Romanian Foreign Minister Aurescu.

This event is a continuation of a conversation on the topic of legal avenues to fight climate change which commenced in December 2021.  

Opening Remarks:
H.E. Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the UN

Speakers:
H.E. Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania; Member, UN International Law Commission; Professor of International Law, University of Bucharest (pre-recorded message)
H.E. Odo Tevi, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN
Kate Mackintosh, Executive Director, Promise Institute for Human Rights
Payam Akhavan, Professor of International Law, Massey College, University of Toronto; Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration; Counsel to the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law

Moderator:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Peace Institute

Many peacekeepers are deployed in areas where ongoing armed conflicts or other situations of violence, including attacks against peacekeepers, have constrained their capacity to implement their mandate and protect themselves. This has led some troop-contributing countries (TCCs) to raise concerns about the high-risk environments to which their troops are deployed. One of the most critical issues when deploying troops to nonpermissive environments is ensuring they have the right capabilities and mindset.

This paper interrogates TCCs’ perspectives on capabilities and mindsets and explores their implications for peacekeeping policy and practice. The goal is not only to deepen understanding of the UN’s progress on implementing the A4P+ priorities but, more importantly, to assess the state of play of peacekeeping in nonpermissive environments, drawing on the diverse perspectives of TCCs.

The paper concludes by considering how capabilities and mindsets relate to accounta­bility for and accountability of peacekeepers. Failure to properly train, equip, and support troops being deployed to nonpermissive environments raises questions about whether the UN and TCCs are accountable to peacekeepers. Likewise, it is unclear to what extent peacekeepers should be held accountable for their performance when they have not been provided the proper equipment, training, and mindset.

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At a policy forum cohosted by IPI and the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the UN on March 28th, IPI Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations Jenna Russo announced the recent publication and first independent report on the topic of accountability for crimes against peacekeepers, written by IPI Senior Policy Analyst Agathe Sarfati. The report highlights striking contrasts between the number of fatalities and the number of prosecutions: Since 2013, over 250 peacekeepers have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, and the Central African Republic, but only eight trials were conducted in relation to these crimes.

The UN Secretariat has focused on increasing accountability to peacekeepers, including fighting impunity for crimes against peacekeepers as part of the Action for Peacekeeping Plus priorities (A4P+). Stéphane Jean, DPO and OROLSI’s focal point on the topic, emphasized the dual objective of holding perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers accountable: “Those who maim and kill UN Personnel are often the same who victimize and target civil society. Political, financial, and technical support from member states is critical.”

As the UN aims to advance both accountability of and accountability to peacekeepers, this policy forum examined the progress and remaining challenges linked to fighting impunity for crimes against peacekeepers.

Representatives from MINUSMA and MINUSCA noted the challenges to support investigations and prosecutions while affirming that convictions are not the end-all be-all.

Mona Ali Khalil of the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict emphasized that if we ask for accountability for peacekeepers, we also need to ask for accountability of peacekeepers.

Colonel Ashish Bhalla of India noted increased violence and risks in security environments of contemporary peace operations. India, the largest troop-contributing country (TCC) to UN missions championed Resolution 2589 and played a key role in the creation of the Group of Friends to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Unfortunately, promoting accountability is not a simple task and is often difficult to put into practice.

Both the event and publication are part of IPI’s broader workstream on A4P+, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Opening Remarks:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute
Djeyhoun Ostowar, Deputy Head of Political Affairs Section, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN

Speakers:
Stéphane Jean, UN Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Department of Peace Operations (DPO)
Colonel Ashish Bhalla, Military Adviser, Permanent Mission of India to the UN
Rafik Maamar, Head of Criminal Investigations, UNPOL, MINUSCA (Via Zoom)
Ahmed Ghanem-Ali, Chief, Justice and Corrections Section, MINUSMA (Via Zoom)
Mona Ali Khalil, Affiliate, Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict; Former UN Senior Legal Officer (Via Zoom)

Moderator:
Agathe Sarfati, Senior Policy Analyst, International Peace Institute

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IPI together with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Botswana to the UN cohosted a ministerial-level policy forum on March 27th entitled “The Kimberley Process to Eradicate Conflict Diamonds: Twenty Years of Challenges and Achievements.”

UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56 addressed the role that diamonds can play in fueling armed conflict by creating the Kimberly Process (KP), an international certification scheme to limit the illicit trade in rough diamonds. This process has not only significantly reduced the number of conflict diamonds on the open market but also helped economies thrive based on the trade of this mineral. Current Kimberley Process chair Winston Chitando expressed his perspective that the KP mechanisms “have been largely successful,” while recognizing a Review Committee would be valuable to confront the challenges ahead.

Some countries still heavily rely on the diamond trade: in Botswana, for instance, it generates more than half of government revenue and accounts for more than one in twenty jobs. The Kimberley Process has faced criticism, however. Some argue that it does not take into account environmental impacts, labor rights, and human rights concerns in mining communities. Drawing on the example of energy for comparison, Cristina Duarte stressed the need to change the business model of natural resource management in Africa to increase domestic value creation.

On the week of the UN General Assembly resolution calling for reforms to enhance the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process, the question remains: Is the Kimberley Process still relevant after more than 20 years of existence? The KP is an institution which must be used as a vehicle for peace and sustainable development; review and reform will lead to a more relevant and effective process, emphasized Dr. Kwape.

Participants in this ministerial-level policy forum discussed how the Kimberley Process has helped weaken the link between conflict and diamonds and transformed local economies. They also discussed how issues such as environmental protection and human rights can become part of the certification scheme. IPI Vice President Adam Lupel noted that a critical issue for KP reform will be the debates around expanding the definition of “conflict diamond” beyond the funding of “rebel groups.” Ensuring the ethical and sustainable sourcing of diamonds is also a matter of improving state practices, listening to affected communities, protecting human rights, and safeguarding the environment.

Speakers:
H.E. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Botswana
H.E. Winston Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe
H.E. Cristina Duarte, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa

Moderator:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, International Peace Institute

Since 1948, more than 1,000 UN personnel have been killed in malicious acts while serving in UN peacekeeping operations. Since 2013, the vast majority of fatalities have taken place in the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To address this trend, the UN Secretariat and member states have increasingly focused on strengthening the policy framework on accountability to peacekeepers. They have also increasingly focused specifically on how to pursue justice for peacekeepers who have been victims of attacks.

This paper focuses on advancing justice for crimes against peacekeepers as one aspect of the overall effort to enhance accountability to peacekeepers. It provides an overview of the role of UN peacekeeping operations in investigating and prosecuting crimes against peacekeepers and the UN’s growing focus on advancing and prioritizing accountability for these crimes. It then examines case studies of criminal cases supported by the UN missions in CAR (MINUSCA), Mali (MINUSMA), and the DRC (MONUSCO) in their respective host states and provides an overview of cross-cutting challenges they have faced.

The paper concludes with recommendations to help the UN Secretariat, peacekeeping operations, the Security Council, and other member states accelerate the investigation and prosecution of crimes against peacekeepers in a consistent and balanced manner:

• The UN Secretariat should maintain a comprehensive approach to accountability, develop a common definition of crimes against peacekeepers, ensure that host states adhere to human rights standards when engaging with those accused of crimes against peacekeepers, and improve internal and external coordination in this area.
• UN missions should pursue a comprehensive approach to accountability, continue to support host-state investigations and prosecutions of those accused of crimes against peacekeepers, advocate for host-state authorities to pursue accountability, and ensure sustained documentation of and follow-up on cases.
• The Security Council should reinforce peacekeeping mandates to build the host state’s capacity to pursue accountability and encourage legal clarity on the nature of crimes against peacekeepers.
• UN member states should use the group of friends to offer new ideas on ways to promote accountability and use the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations to discuss ways to improve coordination in this area.

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Diplomatic corps, private sector, medical representatives and key players called on local, regional and global communities to bridge divides between the medical, private and humanitarian sectors in order to build resilient societies that can sustainably address the challenges of the twenty-first century.

IPI MENA hosted its first Global Humanitarian Leaders Series on March 21 under the theme “Pioneering Humanitarian Medical Assistance” which featured key-speaker Dr. Sanduk Ruit, Ophthalmologist from Nepal and Recipient of the 5th Edition of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, for his ground-breaking research on cataracts and humanitarian contributions in saving the sight of 120,000 low-income people free of charge.

Opening the conference, IPI MENA Senior Director Nejib Friji pointed to IPI’s milestone ICM report, specifically the section focusing on the health sector, pandemics and public health. “Among various recommendations, one stands out to me during this webinar,” he noted. “Partnerships with the private sector should be strengthened – there is great potential for public-private partnerships in health, and these could include partnerships in research and development.”

He called on ophthalmologists and private sector leaders who have rich experience in conducting humanitarian medical work in remote areas, in Tunisia, North Africa and beyond in Africa, to assist people in need and preserve sight. “I hope they join the efforts with Dr. Ruit to further expand their noble initiatives in Africa and other continents,” he stated, while thanking the Kingdom of Bahrain for granting the Isa Award to highlight Dr. Ruit’s humanitarian work.

Underscoring the importance of focusing on eyesight as an area for humanitarian work, Dr. Ruit noted the socio-economic burdens of blindness in that it shortens life expectancy, income, and employment, all of which are critical in low-income developing countries.

“About 36 million people are blind, and if you add the number of operable cataract cases it is about 100 million people. Unfortunately, close to 90% of those cases live in low- and middle-income countries,” he stressed.

He underlined that cataracts are still the most common cause of blindness, and while 100 million patients require cataract surgery, only 30 million surgeries are done per year. This deficit of 70 million patients who need cataract surgery live in low-income areas.

“To provide modern cataract surgery at the community level it is really important that our work be sustainable,” he stated, and stressed the need for powerful research and innovation in this field. This enables them to tap into new technology at reduced costs, and as a result allows them to reach poorer communities to perform the surgeries.

He shared a case study of a low-income woman who suffered from blindness due to cataracts and as a result was abandoned by her husband despite having a nine-month-old baby. The child was malnourished as the woman couldn’t properly look after him due to her medical situation. Dr. Ruit noted that her case could represent any woman from a low-income area in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, or even South America. Six years after performing surgery on her for free, Dr. Ruit found that she was running the household and farm of her family, her son was going to school, and she was able to negotiate some of the most difficult terrains in Nepal to provide for her family.

“You can see why good vision is very central for this part of the world,” Dr. Ruit stressed. “She is back into the affairs that are related to society, she is now an economically viable family member.”

He emphasized the importance of sharing the knowledge and know-how to the medical and health sectors globally to sustainably help and improve local low-income communities. “We are training close to 800 eye doctors now from almost 40 countries around the world and the technique specifically addresses the local socio-economic conditions,” he stated, while noting the critical importance of the medical and private sector linking up with local partners in each respective country and gaining the support from the local health ministries.

During the open-floor debate session, Bangladesh Ambassador to Bahrain Dr. Nazrul Islam underscored Bangladesh’s willingness to collaborate and cooperate with Dr. Ruit to ensure his humanitarian work can access Bangladesh’s health sector, to which Dr. Ruit noted the request he received for a partnership with the Bangladesh Ophthalmological Society, as well as the work they do with local doctors.

Professor Khalil Rayes, Secretary General of the Tunisian Ophthalmological Society, invited Dr. Ruit to an upcoming annual congress session on blindness in Tunisia and responded to Dr. Ruit’s call for collaboration with a suggestion for cooperation in this field. He noted the various campaigns on the prevention of cataracts in Tunisia and sub-Saharan countries as well as the importance of engaging with governmental and NGO associations. He also underscored the need for research and innovative thinking in developing surgical techniques that are not expensive to meet the needs of the people.

Nepal Ambassador to Bahrain Mr. Tirtha Raj Wagle highlighted Nepal’s pride in Dr. Ruit’s humanitarian efforts and the strengthening of already positive relations between Nepal and Bahrain through the Isa Award, established by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain. While thanking IPI MENA for hosting Dr. Ruit, he reminded the audience of the importance of fostering South-South cooperation in vulnerable and low-income countries.

The UN secretary-general launched Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) in March 2021, three years after introducing the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative. A4P+ was conceptualized as a two-year implementation strategy for A4P that prioritizes urgent challenges facing UN peacekeeping. To monitor progress toward achieving these priorities, the UN has developed the A4P+ Plan and the A4P+ Monitoring Framework with specific results, deliverables, and indicators. To date, the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO) has published two reports assessing the implementation of A4P+ and the impact of these efforts on UN peacekeeping operations.

This issue brief takes stock of the monitoring and implementation of A4P+ over the past two years. It begins by explaining the A4P+ priorities and tracing their emergence out of the A4P initiative and Declaration of Shared Commitments. It then discusses highlights from the A4P+ Plan and the two progress reports published as of March 2023 and examines the benefits and limitations of current approaches to monitoring and implementing A4P+.

The paper concludes that moving forward, UN officials will need to balance ambitious goals for progress with realistic expectations about what peacekeeping operations can achieve, and when. The UN will also have to decide whether to extend the current set of A4P+ priorities beyond 2023. Ultimately, while A4P+ can help grease the machinery of UN peacekeeping, its long-term impact will depend on member states delivering on their existing political, operational, and financial commitments.