Undoubtedly, UN Peacekeeping remains one of the most essential tools for creating lasting peace and responding to international crises.

However, peacekeeping missions in recent times are facing increasing pressure to adapt to volatile environments, and now operate in far more dangerous, complex and high-risk environments.

They face threats from armed groups, criminals and terrorists violent extremist groups who pose a major threat to the successful implementation of mandates, aside with the realities of budget cuts and growing expectation for existing missions to achieve expected outcomes with fewer resources.

In support of the UN Secretary General’s “Action for Peacekeeping (A4P)” initiative, which among others, seeks to renew mutual political commitments and make missions stronger and safer, the Norwegian Mission to the UN is partnering KAIPTC and the Ghana and UK Missions to the United Nations to organise a one-day conference on the theme: “Peacekeeping in Africa: Fostering Partnerships and Synergies” at the UN Headquarters in new York on 12 November 2019.

The main purpose of the conference is to sustain and expand the political momentum and the shared commitment for discussing the challenges confronting peacekeeping especially on the African Continent, and to deliberate on ways to deal with emerging security threats.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss the outcomes and implications of managing peacekeeping challenges in these uncertain times including reinforcing UN-Africa peace and security partnerships, identifying resources for sustaining peace in Africa, and building on cooperation with African regional and sub-regional security frameworks.

High-level government officials from the UN and key stakeholders from AU Member States, the African Union, African Regional Economic Communities (RECs), think tanks, as well as international partners, including Denmark and Sweden will be in attendance. The conference is also open to the participation of all UN Member States.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the outcomes and implications of managing peacekeeping challenges in these uncertain times including reinforcing UN-Africa peace and security partnerships, identifying resources for sustaining peace in Africa, and building on cooperation with African regional and sub-regional security frameworks.

At the end of the conference, a comprehensive document, summarizing key policy recommendations on opportunities, mechanisms and partnerships for peacekeeping operations as well as contribution to the ongoing peacekeeping reform initiatives will be produced. It is also expected that new ideas for training will be shared that could lead to the development of new training modules.

The conference is in partnership with International Peace Institute, New York and Wilton Park, UK.