(2011-02) Civilian capacity in the aftermath of conflict: independent report of the Senior Advisory Group (A/65/747-S/2011/85)

United Nations • 2011 • 48 pages

Summary — Independent review led by Jean-Marie Guehenno on strengthening civilian capacity in post-conflict countries, proposing the OPEN framework of ownership, partnership, expertise and nimbleness for United Nations support.

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Key Findings

The Group finds that sustainable peace is not possible without stronger civilian capacity, that almost every conflict-affected country retains latent national capacities that must be protected, and that international responses are often supply-driven rather than aligned with national needs. It identifies United Nations capacity gaps in safety and security, justice, inclusive political processes, core government functionality and economic revitalization. Recommendations include treating international capacity as a mechanism of last resort, creating a Civilian Partnerships Cell, extending the cluster model, allowing heads of mission to reallocate up to 20 percent of civilian personnel budget lines, and cutting trust fund overhead rates from 13 to 7 percent.

Full Description

This independent report, transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly and the Security Council in February 2011, presents the findings of the Senior Advisory Group on civilian capacity in the aftermath of conflict, chaired by former Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie Guehenno. It finds that communities emerging from conflict face critical shortages of the capacities needed to run government, re-establish justice, reintegrate fighters and revitalize economies, and that the United Nations struggles to deploy the right expertise quickly and to transfer skills to national actors. The Group proposes an OPEN framework built on four principles: ownership, treating international capacity as a last resort and supporting core government functions; partnership, including a Civilian Partnerships Cell and civilian support packages; expertise, extending the cluster model and strengthening accountability and leadership; and nimbleness, giving field leaders flexibility over resources and faster funding mechanisms. The report is a global review rather than a Haiti-specific study, and its analysis of post-crisis civilian deployment bears directly on international engagement in Haiti.

Topics

Geography

Time Coverage

2011 — 2011

Keywords

A/65/747, S/2011/85, civilian capacity, post-conflict, peacebuilding, Senior Advisory Group, Jean-Marie Guehenno, OPEN framework, national ownership, cluster approach, United Nations reform

Entities

Jean-Marie Guehenno, Ban Ki-moon, Senior Advisory Group, Susana Malcorra, United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office, African Union, World Bank, Ameerah Haq, Bruce Jones, Carlos Lopes, Rubem Cesar Fernandes

Notes

UN document A/65/747-S/2011/85; ayitistats wave B; global thematic review catalogued for Haiti relevance