Funding Documents

This report looks back at our efforts in 2021 to advance political solutions and assist peace processes, mediation, and elections throughout the world. Much of this work would have been impossible without the strong financial support of our partners through the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA). Once more, the MYA has shown its distinctive value through projects and initiatives that respond quickly to the risk of violent conflict.

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs' (DPPA) new Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) for 2020-2022 carries special significance, for reasons of symbolism and of substance. It marks 10 years since the Department first asked Member States for voluntary contributions to support its work. And, with the launch of our new Strategic Plan for 2020-2022, it provides the means to help secure DPPA’s position as a central part of the UN’s conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding work over for the next three years, a longer span than any previous appeal.

The Multi-Year Appeal 2018-2019 lays out the priorities for the biennium, taking into account the Secretary-General’s vision and focus on prevention, and in line with DPA’s Strategic Plan for 2016-2019. Under the overarching priorities of the Strategic Plan, the MYA 2018-2019 puts emphasis on inclusive processes as part of setting the agenda for conflict prevention and as a cross-cutting theme in all areas of our work. The MYA continues investments in sustaining peace and further strengthening of partnerships and common agendas with regional and sub-regional organizations.

In the beginning of 2020, DPPA launched the MYA to put its new three-year Strategic Plan for 2020–2022 into action. But with the onset of COVID-19, the Department had to quickly shift gears. Unearmarked MYA funding, and the rapid response window, enabled it to adapt to the new reality, seize opportunities and innovate.

The 2018 Annual Report on the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) provides an overview of success stories for the year as well as ongoing challenges. Partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations feature prominently in the document, which also lists examples of collaboration with the UN Peacebuilding Fund, UN Country Teams, the World Bank and the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Conflict Prevention, among others. In 2018 the MYA allowed DPPA to mobilize a total of $35.6 million from 30 partners. Remarkably, up of 69 per cent of the total received was unearmarked, which demonstrates the confidence partners place on the Department.

2016 was a year of transition for the United Nations. In his last year at the helm of the Organization, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon moved to translate the conclusions of the wide ranging and recent reviews of the United Nations peace and security work into meaningful reforms and action, and saw the adoption of the landmark “Sustaining Peace” resolutions. The United Nations also welcomed a new leader, António Guterres, who has made a “surge in diplomacy for peace” his clarion call. These changes, along with the continuously evolving “conflict landscape” that gave rise to them, promise to have a transformational effect on the Department of Political Affairs (DPA). 

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is pleased to present its Second Quarterly Report under the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) covering the period from 1 April to 30 June 2021. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, DPPA was able to respond to opportunities, take risks and meet demand for preventive diplomacy, mediation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding – our core work. For more information, please contact DPPA’s Donor Relations Team at: dppa-donorrelations@un.org.

COVID-19 continues to pose considerable challenges to conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding while it exacerbates the conditions that can lead to violence. But we are also witnessing resilience, innovation and inclusive political action in response to the pandemic. DPPA is closely monitoring the implications of the pandemic in mission settings and countries with fragile political transitions. This report provides an update of DPPA’s key milestones and achievements during the third quarter of 2020.

DPPA is pleased to issue its Quarterly Report (01 April to 30 June) covering activities funded under the Multi-Year Appeal. During the reporting period, the Department made further progress, thanks to funding under the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA), in assisting Special political Missions (SPMs) and non-mission settings, as well as servicing the whole UN system in the areas of electoral assistance, conflict prevention, crisis response and mediation. DPPA also organized a field visit to Addis Ababa on 3 and 4 June to inform partners of its work with regional organizations.

DPPA's Strategic Plan 2020-2022 is the basis upon which the Department will prioritize its engagements to prevent conflict and sustain peace over the coming three years. 

DPA’s mission is to help prevent and reduce violent conflicts and sustain peace through inclusive political solutions. The Department’s Theory of Change recognizes that a multitude of actors and variables affect achievement of the Department’s mandate. Therefore, deep and effective partnerships, within the United Nations system and outside it, are required to address root or immediate causes that lead to violent conflict. As conflict is complex and its dynamics are embedded in societal, economic, legal and political systems, conflict prevention and management require a non-linear and cyclical approach.

The MYA has been retooled to accompany the implementation of the new Strategic Plan and calls for $170 million in the next four years (2023-2026). DPPA relies on MYA funding to cover much of its operational work from mediation and electoral support, to its work on partnerships, on women, peace and security, as well as on innovation and climate security.