Backgrounder: Canada’s commitments at the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial

On December 5 and 6, 2023, the Honourable Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented Canada at the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial (UNPKM), in Accra, Ghana, where she announced that the Government of Canada will provide over $20.4 million in new projects and contributions to continue supporting UN peace operations and peacebuilding and a pledge of up to an additional $6.2 million in support of protection of civilians.

In addition to these new pledges, Canada committed to continue providing tactical airlift support, which coordinates the movement of cargo and personnel between the UN Regional Service Centre Entebbe in Uganda, MONUSCO (the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and UNMISS (the UN mission in South Sudan).

Strengthening and Supporting UN Systems through Training and Capacity Building

Canada pledged to utilize the Light Coordination Mechanism to facilitate and further coordinate training and capacity building activities. Canada will also share lessons learned, as well as innovations in preparation and deployments, training and capacity building partnership activities. In addition, Canada is contributing over $11 million in project funding to support training and capacity building in UN peacekeeping operations.

Specialized Training Support for UN Peace Operations

Project partner: United Nations Department of Peace Operations, United Nations Department of Operational Support and United Nations Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance

Funding announced: An additional $3.9 million (2023 to 2025)

This funding will support multiple sub-projects that focus on developing, revising and delivering specialized training to better prepare uniformed personnel and civilians deploying to UN peace operations, in support of the UN Secretary General’s Action for Peacekeeping and Action for Peacekeeping Plus agenda. Training priority themes include military and civilian leadership, mine action, courses for uniformed women on communications, and misinformation and disinformation.

Capacity Building and Support to Critically Mandated Tasks for UN Peace Operations

Project partner: United Nations Department of Peace Operations and United Nations Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance

Funding announced: $5.5 million (2023 to 2025)

This funding will support multiple sub-projects that focus on capacity building for peace operations. This includes capacity building to implement and maintain critical mandated tasks as authorized by the UN Security Council for the protection of civilians, including children, from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, strengthening the Comprehensive Planning and Performance Assessment System, upholding human rights, bolstering strategic communications, increasing peacekeeping intelligence, identifying early warning signs, and advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

UN Uniformed Capabilities and Improving Peacekeeping Performance and Accountability UNPKM 2023

Project partner: United Nations Department of Peace Operations

Funding announced: $249,383 (2023 to 2024)

This funding will support the Strategic Force Generation cell to follow-up on UN member states’ pledges made at the 2023 UNPKM. Project activities include assessment and advisory visits, internal coordination, and support for the preparation of the next UNPKM in 2025.

Helping the UN to Deliver in Emergencies

Project partner: UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS)

Funding announced: $1.5 million (2023 to 2025)

This project funding will support effective and people-centered security support to the UN and its partners. Specifically, it will support the creation of an emergency response team for humanitarian operations. It will also support a revitalized information management system that will strengthen UNDSS’ capacity to respond effectively to security challenges.

Managing Exit from Armed Conflict

Project partner: UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNDIR)

Funding announced: $827,386 (2023 to 2025)

This funding will address the knowledge gap on effectively supporting reintegration of armed combatants, individuals and child soldiers after violent conflict. The activities will take place in Colombia, Iraq, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Women, Peace and Security

Through its Department of National Defence, Canada will provide expertise and deploy Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel to support activities that increase the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in UN peacekeeping operations.

This includes supporting United Nations Headquarters led communications campaigns; assessing and addressing the barriers to the full and equal participation of women CAF members in UN operations; and continuing to support the Ghanaian Armed Forces, a partnership through the Elsie Initiative, to bridge gender disparity in its ranks.

Additionally, the RCMP commits to extend delivery of Pre-SAAT training to women police officers to increase numbers deployed to UN peace operations.

These training sessions are designed to enhance the effectiveness of UN peace operations by increasing the deployment of qualified women police officers, developing a greater understanding of key factors that positively contribute to the deployment of women police officers, and enhancing the utilization of women police officers in UN peace operations.

In addition, Canada is contributing over $8.4 million in project funding to further advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda within UN peacekeeping operations.

Advance Meaningful Participation of Women in UN Peace Ops: Support those with Care Responsibilities

Project partner: Monash University

Funding announced: $579,200.61 (2023 to 2026)

This project funding supports an Elsie Initiative partner to pursue research activities related to barriers, issues and best practices for peacekeeping personnel with caring responsibilities.

Framing gender-responsive approaches in UN peace ops: leadership

Project partner: Stimson University

Funding announced: $658,613 (2023 to 2026)

This project funding supports an Elsie Initiative research partner to pursue research activities related to gender-responsive leadership within UN peace operations.

Gender and Peace Operations

Project partner: International Peace Institute (IPI)

Funding announced: $1.49 million (2023 to 2026)

This project funding supports an Elsie Initiative research partner to pursue research activities related to gender bias in UN peacekeeping human resources cycle (recruitment, training, deployments, etc.).

Women in peace ops: supporting inclusive environments

Project partner: Red de Seguridad y Defensa de América Latina (RESDAL)

Funding announced: $878,643.36 (2023 to 2026)

This project funding supports an Elsie Initiative research partner to pursue research activities related to sexual harassment and abuse within/by security sector institutions of troop and police contributing countries and the UN Department of Peace Operations.

Monitoring the Implementation of the 2nd Ghana National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

Project partner: Future of Sustainable Data Alliance (FOSDA)

Funding announced: $129,080.76 (2023 to 2027)

This project funding will support the monitoring of the implementation of the second Ghana National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Applying Gender Considerations to UN Camp Accommodations

Project partner: United Nations Department of Operational Support (UN DOS)

Funding announced: An additional $4.9 million (for a total of $9.8 million) (2023 to 2026)

This additional project funding will allow the United Nations Department of Operational Support to refurbish and build gender-responsive camp accommodations, showering and washing facilities, and outdoor spaces, as well as to integrate gender-responsive designs into standing contracts. It will also allow the UN DOS to apply a gender-responsive lens to other areas such as supply chains and transportation.