Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs

Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Name	Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Formed	1992 (as DPA); 2019 (as DPPA)
Preceding1	Department of Political Affairs
Preceding2	Peacebuilding Support Office
Jurisdiction	United Nations
Headquarters	United Nations Headquarters, New York City
Chief1 name	Rosemary DiCarlo
Chief1 position	Under-Secretary-General
Parent department	United Nations Secretariat
Website	https://dppa.un.org

Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs is a central department within the United Nations Secretariat dedicated to preventing and resolving conflict globally. It was formed in 2019 through the merger of the former Department of Political Affairs and the Peacebuilding Support Office, consolidating the UN's political analysis and peacebuilding efforts. The department provides support to the Secretary-General and Security Council while deploying envoys and political missions to areas of tension.

History and establishment

The department's origins trace back to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, with political affairs initially managed within the United Nations Secretariat. The end of the Cold War and the surge in complex conflicts like those in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda led to the formal creation of the Department of Political Affairs in 1992. Following major reviews like the 2015 report of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and the 2017 peacebuilding and sustaining peace resolutions, the General Assembly approved a restructuring. This led to the merger with the Peacebuilding Support Office in 2019, creating a single entity to better link conflict prevention, mediation, and post-conflict stabilization.

Mandate and responsibilities

Its core mandate is to provide operational support for the peaceful prevention and resolution of conflicts worldwide. This involves conducting diplomatic outreach, providing mediation support, and offering strategic political analysis to the Secretary-General and the Security Council. The department is also responsible for managing special political missions and overseeing the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. A key responsibility is to implement the UN's sustaining peace agenda, ensuring coherence between political engagement and longer-term peacebuilding efforts in countries like Colombia, Iraq, and Somalia.

Structure and organization

The department is headed by an Under-Secretary-General, currently Rosemary DiCarlo, who reports directly to the Secretary-General. It is organized into several key divisions: the Africa Division, the Asia and the Pacific Division, the Europe and Central Asia Division, and the Americas Division, which monitor and engage on regional issues. Thematic offices include the Policy and Mediation Division, the Security Council Affairs Division, and the Peacebuilding Support Office, which manages the Peacebuilding Commission's secretariat. The department also oversees numerous field-based special political missions in locations such as Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen.

Key activities and operations

Its field activities center on deploying and managing over 20 special political missions and offices, such as the UNAMA and the UNSMIL. The department provides critical mediation and good offices in peace processes, for instance in Cyprus and Syria. It conducts electoral assistance, often in partnership with the UNDP, and supports the implementation of peace agreements, including the 2016 Colombian peace agreement. The Policy and Mediation Division develops guidelines on issues like gender and inclusion in peace processes, while the Peacebuilding Support Office channels resources through the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund to countries like the Central African Republic.

Leadership and key personnel

The department is led by Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, a former United States diplomat and United Nations official. The head of the Peacebuilding Support Office holds the rank of Assistant Secretary-General, a position occupied by Elizabeth Spehar. Other senior officials include the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Director of the Security Council Affairs Division. The department also employs a network of high-level envoys and representatives, such as the Special Envoy for Yemen and the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, who lead diplomatic efforts in specific conflict zones.

Relationship with other UN bodies

The department works closely with the Security Council, providing briefings and reports, and servicing the Security Council Affairs Division. It collaborates with the Peacebuilding Commission and coordinates with major funds and programmes like the UNDP and the UNICEF on integrated missions. In peacekeeping settings, it partners with the Department of Peace Operations on transitions, as seen in missions like the UNMISS. It also liaises with regional organizations such as the African Union, the European Union, and the Arab League to advance shared diplomatic initiatives.

Category:United Nations departments and offices Category:Peacebuilding Category:Political history of the United Nations