Understanding and Improving Engagement with Civil Society in UN Peacekeeping: from Policy to Practice

Abstract

This study analyses issues and dilemmas that peacekeeping operations and indeed the larger peacebuilding and development community has faced when engaging with civil society in conflict-affected environments with a particular focus on lessons emerging from UN missions’ experiences in engaging with civil society and local communities. It proposes a number of strategic and operational recommendations to address the identified gaps. It also offers a simple pilot toolkit to help peacekeepers better identify and strategically map relevant civil society actors and their key roles during different phases of conflict, consider the critical factors that are likely to drive or impede civil society engagement, and highlight risks (if any) that may merit special consideration. As such, the study contributes to the implementation of the recommendations of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. The tools and guidance provided by the study will enable field missions to engage a broader range of actors in the challenging task of building consensus for long-lasting political solutions to conflicts.