Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Detail interim private finance investments to plug ODA gap and safeguard UK conflict expertise.
Recommendation
It should also detail what interim investments it has made for private finance to plug the Official Development Assistance gap. This includes investment in civilian-led conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. UK expertise, much of it currently concentrated in the Migration and Conflict Department, Integrated Security Fund and FCDO cadre of conflict advisors deployed in various diplomatic posts, is essential to sustaining global credibility and leadership, and must be safeguarded. We also welcome further clarity on how the Government will share its expertise with host countries to develop their expertise on preventing, resolving and reducing conflict in a manner which is reciprocal and mutually beneficial and allows them to develop such capacities over the long-term. The Government must work closely with its European allies to share responsibilities rather than duplicating efforts, to bring about a singular and coordinated response in the prevention and resolution of conflict. Although beyond the scope of this inquiry, a forward-looking whole of government peace and conflict strategy would bring much-needed clarity and ensure that diplomatic, security and development investments are aligned for maximum impact. (Recommendation, Paragraph 68) The UK’s role as penholder at the United Nations Security Council
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses its agreement with UN peacekeeping reform and its efforts within the UN80 process to advocate for efficiencies and a whole-of-UN approach to peacekeeping. It does not detail investments in private finance for ODA, safeguarding UK expertise, sharing expertise with host countries, or working with European allies on conflict prevention.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
43. HMG agrees that UN peacekeeping remains an indispensable tool for peace and agrees with the need for UN peacekeeping reform as part of the UN80 process. HMG’s overarching reform objective is for peacekeeping mission planning to take a whole-of-UN perspective and approach, allowing peace operations to focus on security and political tasks where they have a comparative advantage, while development or humanitarian actors lead complementary work to avoid duplication. Throughout UN80 the UK is also advocating for enhanced efficiencies and reduction in overlap of UN peacekeeping structures, including within the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The role of the UN Secretary General’s good offices remains critical, especially through the Secretary-General’s own platform as a global mediator-in-chief. Additional HMG reform priorities are focussed on ensuring peacekeeping operations are tailored to local contexts adapt as situations change, and are improved through appropriate training and equipment and by ensuring performance and conduct standards are upheld. 44. HMG recognises the importance and complimentary nature of peacekeeping and peacebuilding activity. HMG cannot divert funding from UN peacekeeping to UN peacebuilding activity as UN peacekeeping funding is non-discretionary and made via assessed UN contributions. The UK’s contribution for the 2025/26 UN Peacekeeping fiscal year (July to June) is $245m (4.7454% of the $5.16b overall peacekeeping budget). As a P5 member, the UK is the fifth largest contributor with the percentage of what each member state contributes agreed every three years. Instead, HMG engages closely with the UN Peacebuilding Support Office and the UK remains a top donor to the UN Peacebuilding Fund, investing a further £5.5 million this financial year. 45. HMG agrees with the importance of review and closure of UN peacekeeping structures when the right criteria are met, noting the UK is one of fifteen UN Security Council members. The UK tries to deliver value for money through the relevant UN committees, working with like-minded member states to achieve effective and efficient closures. HMG also agrees with the importance of evaluating peacekeeping mandates and mission effectiveness, HMG does so in several different ways. This includes SMAT (Strategic Mission Assessment Tool) visits to peacekeeping missions alongside consolidated advice from a variety of stakeholders such as embassies in host countries, the UK Mission in New York, the Ministry of Defence, former UN peacekeepers, and the contribution of UK Military Staff Officers into UN peace operations. 46. HMG appreciates the appeal of a unified UN Peace and security structure. For practical reasons, including the need to find global consensus on UN80 reform priorities, HMG is focussed on improving the coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of UN structures as set out above. This will enable the UN to return to its role as the world’s mediator and peacekeeper, alongside its conflict preventions mandate. 47. As penholder, the UK is active and engaged in matters pertaining to peacekeeping. This includes advocating for the UN’s unique legitimacy and comparative advantage in deploying multinational forces under the blue flag, with high standards in human rights, gender, and accountability; and cautioning against over-reliance on regional or coalition enforcement operations, which are not substitutes for UN peacekeeping. With respect to the UK’s penholdership of individual peacekeeping files, paragraph 33 (UNFICYP, Cyprus) provides a good example of UK success in maintaining longstanding UN Security Council unity. In this role the UK also continues to warn against the threat of roll-back on hard-won progress in key policy areas, including Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). As co-chairs of the Elsie Initiative Fund, we continue to advocate for the safeguarding of the WPS agenda throughout ongoing budget negotiations and within UN80 reform discussions.