CAF26 Background Paper: Building Networked UN Peace Operations

In this paper, Peter Albrecht and Kwesi Aning argues that networked peace operations offer one response to political and financial pressure facing the UN. However, they are not a solution in themselves. Distributing tasks may reduce the risk of duplication, but without sufficient coordination, it can also risk fragmenting political strategy, diffusing responsibility and shifting costs to UN agencies. A credible model should include regional organisations and partners, rather than remain an internal UN exercise. For such a model to work, there must be a clear centre of strategic coherence and accountability. The UN should retain political direction, impartial presence and strategic oversight, while negotiated agreements allocate tasks, resources and responsibility. The test is not whether missions become smaller, but whether a networked model can deliver the mandate more coherently, accountably and effectively than existing arrangements.