Thank you president, ambassadors, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen and dear colleagues.
Let me begin by thanking all Member States here today for your continued commitment to UN peacekeeping. Each of you, in your various capacities, has a vital role to play in this partnership, as highlighted by the Action for Peacekeeping initiative.
In particular, I would like to recognize the important role that troop and police contributors play in upholding UN ideals, as well as the sacrifices of peacekeepers working in challenging and dangerous environments. We thank them for their service and we honour and mourn all peacekeepers who gave their lives in the service of peace.
Ladies and gentlemen, A4P has brought together the peacekeeping community in a remarkable way over the past months. I want to thank all of you who have endorsed the Declaration and shown your willingness to support and implement it. My department is also making efforts to implement our A4P commitments and I look forward to discussing these efforts with you today.
Secretary-General’s Reform Efforts
But first, let me share with you our ongoing efforts to implement the Secretary-General’s management reforms. The Secretary-General’s vision for the UN is of a field-focused organization, something A4P also emphasizes. His new management paradigm is based on three principles:
- Simplification of policy frameworks
- Decentralization of decision-making authority and policy to the point of delivery
- Enhanced accountability and transparency
We are fully committed to implementing his vision.
The reorganization of responsibilities and resourcing at Headquarters from the existing Departments of Management and Field Support to the new Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance (DMSPC) and the new Department of Operational Support (DOS) will help to shift the focus from process to results, eliminate duplicative functions, establish a clearer division of roles and responsibilities, and ensure that checks and balances are in place.
The new Department of Operational Support promises to strengthen our work in the field, as well as our ability to deliver on the expectations of TCC/PCCs. It will provide a broad spectrum of guidance and operational support across the Secretariat, including supply chain management, personnel matters and training, ICT requirements, support for uniformed capabilities, and support to UNHQ departments.
Planning is already well underway, with nine core working groups ensuring readiness for launch on 1 January 2019.
Key Features of the Department of Operational Support
First, we are establishing a “one-stop-shop” for troop- and police-contributing countries, providing a single point of contact for administrative and logistical issues related to force generation, MOUs, contingent-owned equipment, and reimbursement. A new Uniformed Capabilities Division will consolidate capacities currently spread across multiple divisions to improve performance, capability, and the safety and security of peacekeepers.
Second, a new Special Activities Division will handle surge, transition, and downsizing missions, and manage operational planning. The Support Partnerships Service will provide an entry point for external partners supporting non-UN activities, particularly African peace support operations.
Third, supply chain reforms will consolidate logistics and procurement into one department, eliminating delays caused by inter-departmental hand-offs.
Fourth, we are working closely with the future Department of Peace Operations to ensure unified guidance, training, and standards for all personnel.
Empowering the field is central. Delegated authority in human resources, finance, procurement, and property management will be strengthened at mission level.
The Regional Service Centre at Entebbe and the Kuwait Joint Support Office will continue transactional support pending a revised Global Service Delivery Model proposal in March.
Implementing the Declaration of Shared Commitments
Strengthening the Impact of Peacekeeping on Sustaining Peace
We are judged not only by our actions during deployment but also by a country’s condition when missions leave.
- MINUJUSTH (Haiti) is expected to close by October 2019, with a six‑month administrative wrap-up. We are supporting a smooth transition to the UN Country Team, including responsible handover of sites.
Our mission in Darfur is due to close by 30 June 2020, if certain benchmarks are met. During my visits to El Fasher, Zalingei, Golo and Nyala in July, I witnessed UNAMID’s efforts to reconfigure in response to the new mandate. A central purpose of my visit was to assess progress towards handing over UN facilities to the UN Country Team or Government, ensuring facilities benefit local communities. I urged the Sudanese Government to consider UNAMID national staff for future employment. Host governments have committed to build and sustain peace and cooperate with our operations, and I welcome the Sudanese Government’s promises.
We call on Member States to support transitions by strengthening UN Country Teams and ensuring adequate resources for environmental management.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO is preparing for elections, distributing material, and supporting Ebola response operations through an Emergency Operations Centre and an air bridge.
Supporting Effective Performance and Accountability
We must hold civilian and uniformed peacekeepers accountable for effective performance. DFS is:
- Reviewing missions and analyzing performance data
- Strengthening medical care
- Supporting AMISOM and UNSOS
- Enhancing coordination with the African Union
We continue to implement the 10-1-2 principle for medical response (first aid within 10 minutes, life support within 1 hour, surgery within 2 hours). Missions are conducting Health Risk Assessments, and we are undertaking casualty evacuation stress testing.
A new performance management framework for field support tracks 12 standard indicators across nine service areas.
Financial Accountability
- $6.2 million paid last year for 253 death and disability claims
- $8 million processed for equipment damaged by hostile action
- $13 million more in processing
- $2.4 million projected in reimbursements for rapid deployment units
- $7.5 million issued as risk premiums for contingents in MINUSMA and UNMIL
Improving Peacekeeping Partnerships
The African Union is our most vital partner. A successful two-year pilot partnership has led to institutionalized cooperation, including staff exchanges and training.
We encourage the establishment of a mechanism to finance AU-led peace support operations through UN assessed contributions, as envisioned in Security Council Resolution 2378.
Triangular Partnerships
Through the Triangular Partnership Project:
- 144 African TCC engineers trained
- 323 signals/ICT personnel trained
- 13 women deployed from signals courses
We are expanding to Asia, Francophone countries, and frontline medical training.
Support can include funding, in-kind contributions, training, or equipping.
Strengthening Conduct and Environmental Management
We finalized the first set of environmental scorecard results, which will inform budget performance reports. A solid baseline will be in place by June 2020.
We are implementing the Environment Strategy (2017–2023) and call on Member States to deploy environmentally responsible solutions.
Conduct and Discipline
- 42 SEA allegations reported so far this year
- 455 misconduct reports overall
- A new Risk Management Toolkit for SEA has been launched
- Member States are urged to sign the Secretary‑General’s Voluntary Compact and ensure personnel meet UN conduct standards
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, A4P is a call for every member of the peacekeeping partnership to deliver on their responsibilities. The Secretariat is committed to fulfilling our pledges. With reformed management structures, the UN will better deliver on mission mandates, uphold conduct standards, and ensure personnel are properly equipped and protected.
We need your support: better trained troops, adequate equipment, and engagement in UN reforms. Together, we can support host countries on their path toward peace, security, and development.
Thank you, Mr. President, and my apologies for speaking longer than anticipated.