Both positive and “worrying” developments have recently unfolded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a top UN official told the Security Council on Tuesday at an emergency meeting requested by Russia.
Both positive and “worrying” developments have recently unfolded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a top UN official told the Security Council on Tuesday at an emergency meeting requested by Russia.
With the situation in Gaza “worsening by the day”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday appealed for Israeli and Hamas leaders currently taking part in intense negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Ordinary Gazans remain in a “constant state of trauma” over an impending full-scale Israeli attack on the enclave’s southernmost city of Rafah amid a growing number of strikes there, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday.
Rising violence is again restricting humanitarian aid delivery in the Darfur region of Sudan, the head of the World Food Programme said on Monday.
The head of UN peacekeeping and demining reiterated calls on Monday for a ceasefire in Gaza as a first step to returning the war-ravaged enclave to some normality, while mine clearance experts warned that the Strip is now at its “most dangerous period”.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reached one of its now-abandoned schools in Khan Younis at the weekend, where thousands of people appeared to have left at a moment’s notice, fearing further intense Israeli bombardment.
An increase in civilian casualties caused by intensifying attacks from the Russian armed forces against Ukraine’s electric power infrastructure and railway system calls for concern, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said on Monday.
UN Security Council members on Saturday called on the warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt the military build-up and take steps to de-escalate the situation in El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur.
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From Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to Colombia and Mozambique, the UN’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs’ funding appeal showcases how donor contributions have enabled it to remain responsive during extremely challenging times.
A vehicle is driven through the destruction in Khan Younis. OCHA/Themba Linden
“Our Multi-Year Appeal Report for 2023 underscores that investing in peace remains not only essential for the preservation of human life and the prevention of suffering, but also the most cost-effective strategy for securing enduring peace and development gains.”
— Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo
On 24 April 2024, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is presenting its 2023 Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) Annual Report.
The MYA is a trust fund that supports a substantial share of the Department’s work, complementing UN regular budget funding. It allows DPPA to respond quickly and flexibly to requests from UN member states and other entities. Crisis response, mediation support and electoral assistance are almost entirely funded by the MYA, for example.
The Appeal also helps DPPA fund innovative initiatives, for example the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase participation in peace and political initiatives by women and youth.
Voluntary contributions to are indispensable to the Department. However, in 2023, the MYA fell short of its $41 million target by 24 per cent. Despite strong ongoing support from our current and new donors, this deficit impacted the MYA portfolio. The Department had to tap into its cash reserves and, in some cases, recalibrate its activities and scale back engagement.
The MYA facilitates DPPA’s response to heightened demands, such as those stemming from the crisis in Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military response. Through MYA-funded capacities, DPPA has been actively involved both at Headquarters and backstopping the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). The Department also deployed surge capacity to UNSCO to reinforce its crisis response and planning and its coordination with UN Headquarters.
In Ukraine, DPPA’s Liaison Office in Kyiv monitors developments and supports crisis and humanitarian responses, while also promoting peace efforts through coordination with local stakeholders.
Similarly, in Sudan, MYA funding enables real-time analysis and coordination with UN entities, bolstering peacebuilding efforts amid escalating hostilities.
The MYA also supports initiatives in Mozambique, Colombia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria, ranging from peace negotiations to humanitarian assistance and reconciliation efforts.
The MYA report highlights the Department’s three strategic goals . Goal 1 focuses on DPPA’s work preventing and resolving violent conflicts and sustaining peace, work that is guided by the vision of “A New Agenda for Peace.” With a network of special political missions (SPMs), Peace and Development Advisors (PDAs), and Headquarters-based capacities, DPPA collaborates with the UN system and external partners to respond to and prevent conflicts.
The Appeal enhances the mediation, preventive diplomacy, and peacebuilding activities of the Department, building resilience, support local mediation, and foster social cohesion. Emphasizing inclusive participation, DPPA ensures involvement of women, youth, and marginalized groups in peace efforts. MYA’s flexible funding and rapid response window enable swift adaptation to evolving situations.
DPPA’s Mediation Support Unit (MSU) and the Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisors (SBT) play a pivotal role in global peace efforts, deploying experts to negotiations worldwide. Funded by the MYA, the SBT offers rapid deployment within 72 hours, providing specialized advice and training for mediators and parties to conflicts. In 2023, the SBT engaged in 131 mediation support assignments across approximately 26 contexts, spanning regions from Africa to the Americas. Notable engagements included support to Special Political Missions in Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, and Yemen, focusing on issues such as gender inclusion, ceasefire arrangements, and public participation.
Simultaneously, DPPA’s Electoral Assistance Division provided multi-faceted support to 57 Member States in 2023. This support ranged from technical assistance to good offices and mediation, ensuring peaceful and credible elections. The Division worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Paraguay, emphasizing the prevention of election-related violence and strengthening partnerships with regional organizations.
Goal 2 of the MYA report underscores the Department’s commitment to enhancing the multilateral architecture for international peace and security. This involves supporting various UN bodies such as the Security Council, General Assembly, and Peacebuilding Commission.
DPPA recognizes the increasing interconnectedness in today’s world, emphasizing effective cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations. Partnerships with entities like the African Union (AU) have been strengthened, supported by MYA funding, facilitating joint initiatives such as the UN-AU partnership on peace and security. Collaboration extends to areas like hate speech prevention in media and enhancing maritime security in regions like the Gulf of Guinea.
In Southeast Asia, DPPA’s partnership with ASEAN focuses on introducing climate, peace, and security as a new policy focus area. This includes collaborative efforts to assess climate-related risks and promote policy discussions within ASEAN countries. Cooperation with organizations like the League of Arab States (LAS), Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) aims to deepen strategic dialogue and forge common approaches to preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution.
In 2023, funding from the MYA played a pivotal role in advancing the Department’s Goal 3: A Stronger, More Diverse and More Effective Department. Central to DPPA’s strategy was the enhancement of departmental capacities, focusing on knowledge management, staff investment, and innovation. The MYA enabled DPPA to continue its work as the UN’s central hub for mediation knowledge, focusing on digital technologies, ceasefires, climate, religion, and knowledge management. Initiatives included frameworks for conflict analysis, online courses on utilizing digital tools for peace negotiations, ceasefire mediation courses, and training on understanding religious dimensions of conflicts. Through these efforts, DPPA expanded its outreach, supported capacity-building, and identified emerging needs.
“In the current difficult political and funding environment, DPPA is determined to continue to deliver on its mandate, working around the globe and in cooperation with Member States and other partners to help build peaceful and equitable societies. With the support of our donors, we are confident that we can make a decisive contribution to achieving the mission of our Organization: to make peace a reality for all.”
— Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo
Read the full report here.
Madam President,
The destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022 highlighted the vulnerability of critical commercial and energy infrastructure in the current regional and global context.
The incident has sparked widespread speculations that risk further fueling the already heightened tensions and mistrust among Member States.
The Council has convened in total seven times to discuss the issue.
I recall that our briefings on this topic are based solely on information that is publicly available. The United Nations does not have any additional details of the events and is not in a position to verify or confirm claims or reports made regarding the incident. I will therefore use this opportunity to recap what has been stated so far.
Between 26 and 29 September 2022, four leaks were reported in the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines. These pipelines are located in international waters, within the Swedish and Danish economic zones in the Baltic Sea.
The first leak was reported on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the morning of 26 September 2022. Later that day, the second and third leaks were reported on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The fourth leak was reported on 29 September on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
While the pipelines were not in operation at the time of the incidents, they reportedly contained several hundred million cubic meters of natural gas.
In February 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme estimated the plausible range of total methane emissions leaked during the incident to be between 75,000 and 230,000 metric tons.
The full extent of the environmental impacts of the incident, including on marine and local wildlife, is yet to be grasped.
After the leaks were reported, the Danish, German and Swedish authorities announced the launch of separate national investigations. The concerned authorities provided updates on their respective investigations, including in a joint letter to the President of the Security Council dated 10 July 2023 [S/2023/517].
The letter indicated that, according to the investigations, the leaks were caused by the use of explosives. The authorities also reported having informed the Russian Federation about the progress of the investigations.
In a letter dated 25 August 2023 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council [S/2023/627], the Russian Federation expressed concerns about these national investigations and called for "comprehensive and objective proceedings".
In February this year, the Danish and the Swedish authorities informed about the closure of their respective investigations in joint letters from the Permanent Representatives of Denmark, Germany and Sweden to the United Nations, addressed to the President of the Security Council dated 7 and 26 February 2024 [S/2024/149 and S/2024/189].
We look forward to hearing about the findings and conclusions of the ongoing German investigation in due time.
In a letter from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, dated 1 March 2024, addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council [S/2024/230], the Russian Federation reiterated its concerns and that they see a need for an international commission to investigate the Nord Stream incidents further.
Madam President,
We reiterate that any intentional damage to critical civilian infrastructure is of serious concern, should be condemned and investigated.
In the current sensitive security context, we urge everyone to exercise restraint while we wait for the remaining investigation to conclude and for the information to be shared accordingly.
We strongly encourage Member States to continue cooperation and sharing of information to ensure the security of all international waters, including the Baltic Sea, which is critical for regional commerce, security, and stability.
Thank you.
Making Gaza safe again from unexploded bombs could take 14 years, UN demining experts said on Friday.
Bassem Al-Habal carried a large bag of flour provided by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, inside one of the shelters in the city of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, part of his daily journey to find food and water for his family while overcoming displacement, bombardment and the challenges of being deaf and mute in a war zone.
Following the installation of a transitional council in Haiti, seven countries officially notified the UN Secretary-General on Friday of their intention to contribute personnel to the Security Council-backed support mission for the crisis-wracked Caribbean nation.
A UN office investigating Israeli accusations that 12 staff members from UN Palestine relief agency UNRWA were involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attacks has closed one of the cases because Israel had not provided any supporting evidence, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Friday.
Escalating violence in Sudan’s North Darfur state has left dozens dead and people trapped in El Fasher city, which is home to around 800,000 people, many displaced due to fighting.
As deadly attacks in Ukraine continue, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday that the number of children killed so far this year has increased by nearly 40 per cent compared to 2023.
The international community must take immediate action to end the wave of sexual violence being carried out against women and girls in Sudan, two senior UN officials said on Thursday.
The war in Gaza continues to cast a dark shadow over the wider Middle East region, in particular Syria where a series of strikes and attacks are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Thursday.
Unexpected blistering temperatures across Gaza have added to the daily misery faced by the enclave’s people and sparked new fears of disease outbreaks amid a lack of sufficient clean water and waste disposal, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.
On 25 April 1974, military officers overthrew the nearly 50-year dictatorship in Portugal in a largely peaceful coup known as the Carnation Revolution.
The international community must take immediate action to end the wave of sexual violence being carried out against women and girls in Sudan, two senior UN officials said on Thursday.
Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Friends,
Welcome to the Annual Donor meeting of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Thank you for being here and for your support of DPPA’s work.
Fittingly, today is International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace – a day that really highlights our work, and the challenges we face.
When we met just over a year ago, the world was still reeling from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Two weeks after that meeting, armed conflict exploded in the Sudan, sending the country spiraling.
Today, we are more than six months into a devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October. And we are seeing the growing regional ramifications of this conflict across the Middle East.
These wars are destroying lives and compromising the future of millions of people – and they are far from the only ones. Violent conflict has proliferated markedly in the last decade, accelerated by an erosion of – if not an outright assault on - international norms and growing geopolitical competition and division.
I’ll be blunt: This is the most dangerous period in global relations since the end of the Cold War, perhaps even since the end of the Second World War.
The UN’s prevention work and our efforts to foster trust, cooperation and solidarity through diplomacy has never been more important. Similarly, the role of DPPA in accomplishing these tasks is critical.
This is work that we plainly cannot do without your support. Work that, though often painstaking, arduous and discreet, makes a difference, even if it rarely makes the headlines.
Let me also be blunt on another aspect. These are difficult times politically – but also financially. DPPA has been deeply affected by the liquidity situation and the resultant measures and constraints affecting regular budget resources and activities.
We know this is a difficult time for many of you. Some of our partners have cut back. Others have told us that they will not be able to maintain their support at the same level as in previous years.
We understand the constraints you face. But I can also assure you that the return on your investment is worth it. We are not a costly operation. Conflict prevention saves lives – and it is cost-effective.
Nothing saves as much on humanitarian aid, refugee assistance, the costly consequences of conflict as resolving or averting it in the first place.
Friends,
Today, I want to share with you some of the progress we made in 2023. We will also endeavour to respond to your questions and concerns.
And I hope that we will leave here today with an even stronger shared commitment to do all we can to advance peace and security globally – and to leverage the cost-effectiveness of conflict resolution and conflict prevention.
As you know, we are currently in the thick of preparations for the Summit of the Future in September. In 2023, the Secretary-General tasked DPPA as the lead penholder for his policy brief on “A New Agenda for Peace.” The New Agenda outlines his vision for how Member States can advance shared interests and strengthen multilateral action for peace.
In the brief the Secretary-General stresses his commitment to enhance his Good Offices to prevent and mediate conflicts as well as the importance of addressing drivers of conflict. Conflict prevention is a central theme.
DPPA widely consulted Member States and other stakeholders for our analysis and recommendations with the support of the Multi-Year Appeal.
Such consultations and engagement, and translating them into analysis and policy recommendations, are a foundation of our work. They are also vital for the Secretary-General’s Special Representatives and Special Envoys, who rely on the MYA for many of their diplomatic efforts.
In a few minutes, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Hanna Tetteh, will share with you how the MYA supports her ongoing efforts in the Horn of Africa.
Indeed, the MYA supports a broad range of activities including political and peace processes:
These examples underscore the increasing demand for our services and expertise. Each crisis presents unique challenges. Your contributions make possible the tailored responses such challenges require.
Colleagues,
In 2023, we again balanced crisis response with non-crisis prevention efforts. This is always a challenge, but one that is more pronounced the more crises there are – and when we have to make do with limited resources.
DPPA led 53 electoral missions to Member States, demonstrating our commitment to supporting democratic processes globally.
We dedicated $8.2 million, or 19 per cent of the MYA budget, to Women, Peace, and Security initiatives. This surpasses our target [18 per cent] and demonstrates a firm commitment to inclusive political and peacemaking efforts.
Through our MYA-funded Innovation Cell, we used AI technology to promote participation in peace and political initiatives, notably enhancing the inclusion of youth.
In Bolivia and Guinea, for example, we engaged youth in meaningful consultations in the context of political transitions. Our virtual reality films about Lebanon and Chad provided viewers with insights into local challenges.
We also provided essential real-time support to combat disinformation and hate speech across various field presences.
For example, we helped UNAMI with social media monitoring ahead of municipal elections in December and enhanced analytical support for UNOCA, UNOWAS, UNSCOL and the Verification Mission in Colombia.
Our work on climate, peace, and security relies also entirely on voluntary contributions through the MYA. In 2023, we enhanced our capacity to address climate-related security risks in the field.
We successfully deployed climate, peace, and security advisors to our special political missions across West Africa and the Sahel [UNOWAS], Central Africa [UNOCA], the Horn of Africa [OSE-Horn of Africa], Somalia [UNSOM], and Iraq [UNAMI].
Additional deployments are planned for this year [e.g. UNAMA]. By doing so, we are advancing from general policy work to concrete, operational engagement on the ground – where it matters.
As always, over the past year, we also continued to emphasize and deepen our partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations.
For many years, we have maintained liaison presences that have enabled collaboration and partnership with such organizations, across the globe. However, some of these critical collaborations are now at risk of being downsized or closed due to funding constraints.
But while the world is confronting more and more crises, in 2023, we achieved only 76 per cent of our annual funding target of $41 million. We gratefully received a total amount of $31.1 million from 31 donors. The resultant 24 per cent funding gap, equivalent to $9.9 million, highlights the critical need for sustained and enhanced support.
For this cycle of our Multi-Year Appeal from 2023 to 2026, we are seeking to raise a total of $170 million. Our immediate goal for 2024 is $42 million. This funding enables us to do things, concretely and operationally. It also enables us to maintain our work on key thematic areas of engagement, be it the women, peace and security agenda; climate, peace and security; our mediation support; and innovation.
Excellencies, colleagues,
Allow me to conclude very simply by expressing my sincere gratitude and that of our colleagues in the field and here at HQ for your indispensable support.
We know you face many appeals for contributions, and that the current funding environment is difficult. That you have consistently shown up to bolster our efforts, over and above what you already contribute to the UN budget, is deeply appreciated. And we hope, very much, that you can continue to do so.
I would now like to give the floor to Special Envoy Hanna Tetteh.
Hanna is joining us from Addis Ababa and will be speaking about the impact of extra-budgetary contributions on her work.
Thank you.
Dangerous levels of acute hunger affected a staggering 281.6 million people last year - the fifth year in a row that food insecurity has worsened - heightening growing fears of famine and “widespread death” from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, UN agencies warned on Wednesday.
Russia used its veto to quash a draft resolution aimed at keeping weapons out of outer space.
The UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, launched a $1.2 billion appeal on Wednesday to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip and to respond to needs in the West Bank as violence there increases.
For over 75 years, the United Nations special political missions have been promoting peace, preventing violence and working to end conflicts. We joined these efforts in 2007, by the initiatives of the five Central Asian states, when the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia opened its doors in Ashgabat with the mission to liaise with the Governments of the region on issues relevant to preventive diplomacy.
...The head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, on Tuesday reiterated that he welcomed the recommendations of a much-awaited report on its efforts to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they arise.
The UN acknowledges assurances from the South Sudanese government that the recent imposition of taxes on fuel and supply trucks does not apply to the Organization. Still, concerns remain regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid efforts in the region since some of the UN’s fuel and supply trucks are being held at many depots and the border.
The UN verified 3,688 cases of rape and other sexual violence committed in war in 2023, a “dramatic increase” of 50 per cent over the previous year, the Security Council heard on Tuesday.
The General Assembly on Tuesday debated veto power in the Security Council on the eve of the second anniversary of a special measure adopted to monitor its use, following on the heels of the United States vetoing Palestine’s bid last week for full UN membership.
Disturbing reports continue to emerge about mass graves in Gaza in which Palestinian victims were reportedly found stripped naked with their hands tied, prompting renewed concerns about possible war crimes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.
Meaningful action to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas could reduce the number of child casualties in conflicts by nearly half, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.
UN chief António Guterres issued an appeal on Monday to “actively support” the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, adding that he accepted the final findings of an independent probe into the organization, launched amid serious unconfirmed allegations of UNRWA collusion with Hamas fighters and as part of efforts to assess whether the agency was doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality.
As gang violence increases in Haiti, the international community must continue to stand in solidarity with the population, the UN Special Representative for the country told the Security Council on Monday.
The UN Middle East envoy has expressed concern about increased levels of violence in the West Bank, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York on Monday.
UN chief António Guterres issued an appeal on Monday to “actively support” the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, adding that he accepted the final findings of an independent probe into the organisation, launched amid serious unconfirmed allegations of UNRWA collusion with Hamas fighters and as part of efforts to assess whether the agency was doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality.
