Backgrounder
Canada's contribution of $45.37 million in new support for UN peace operations will help assure the meaningful participation of uniformed women in peace operations; enhance the capacity of the UN to take gender into account in the design and conduct of peace operations; and support the implementation of the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) agenda, including through new training strategies.
Canada also made new investments to UN conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding efforts in countries working to set conditions for durable and inclusive peace, including Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan, Yemen and many others. These new investments build on the more than $100 million Canada has provided to support UN peace operations and peacebuilding efforts since 2016, and reinforce the commitments Canada made at the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial conference in Vancouver in 2017.
Peace and Stabilization Operations Program projects
Canadian contribution to the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in UN Peace Operations
Partner: United Nations Development Programme
Funding announced: $15 million
The Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations will deliver financial assistance and incentives primarily to troop- and police-contributing countries. Canada's support will help to accelerate the pace of change toward the increased meaningful participation of uniformed women in UN peace operations.
Preventing Relapse into Violent Conflict
Partner: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund
Funding announced: $15 million
The UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is a mechanism that delivers fast and flexible funding to help countries prevent conflict and support sustainable peace. Canada's contribution to the PBF helps support peacebuilding activities that directly contribute to post-conflict stabilization and strengthen the capacity of governments and transitional authorities.
Support to UN Conflict Prevention and Mediation
Partner: United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Funding announced: $6.7 million
Canada's contribution will support inclusive constitutional processes, peaceful elections and national dialogues; strengthening the capacity of regional and sub-regional organizations to address key conflict drivers; and fostering inclusiveness through civil society networks. In particular, it will help to ensure the meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups in political processes, conflict prevention and mediation.
Increasing the Effectiveness of Peace Operations
Partner: United Nations Department of Peace Operations
Funding announced: $3 million
This project will provide critical support to UN peace operations to enhance the UN's ability to respond to armed conflict threatening global peace and security. This contribution will facilitate innovative training to enhance the performance of military, police and civilians in UN peacekeeping missions; improve data-driven decision-making on peacekeeping performance; provide specialized training on child protection in support of Canada's Vancouver Principles; support the meaningful participation of female uniformed personnel serving in UN peace operations; and support the implementation of the UN Secretary-General's Action for Peacekeeping initiative.
Reducing Barriers for Uniformed Women in UN Peace Operations
Partner: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces
Funding announced: $2.2 million
With this initiative, Canada is supporting efforts to increase the number of women deployed to UN peace operations through evidence-based research and policy recommendations. The equal participation and full involvement of women is important for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and yet, gender imbalances in UN peace operations remain an issue. This project assists in understanding why these imbalances remain through the development of a comprehensive barrier assessment methodology and subsequent reports and policy recommendations.
Support to UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA)
Partner: United Nations General Trust Fund (UNGTF)
Funding announced: $2 million (additional funds to an existing project, for a total of $8 million)
Canada is increasing its support to MINUSMA, which provides support to Malian-led efforts to resolve the crisis in that country and assist in the implementation of the Algiers Peace Process, signed in July 2015. Specifically, this project supports efforts to reinforce social cohesion and enable conflict prevention and mediation efforts to reduce inter- and intra-community violence, extend the rule of law, enable the protection of civilians and support security sector reform in north and central Mali.
Gender Advisors for MINUSMA and Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)
Partner: UNGTF
Funding announced: $1.5 million
Through our contribution to the UNGTF, Canada is supporting the establishment and funding of two gender advisor positions for both MINUSMA and MINUSCA. This funding is helping to enhance the capacity of both UN missions to fully integrate gender considerations into their missions and to promote and implement the women, peace and security agenda.
