Page 9 - Coespu Magazine 2018-2
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Union and other international partners, and, not least, national
authorities.
Beyond the necessity for joint information and analysis
production, the Policy links the military and police activities in
UN Missions with concrete assistance for civilians. In its narrow
definition, this implies close work by ÙN military and police
with the civil affairs component, which now totals almost 900
UN staff members in over 10 operations. A vital role in in this
mutually reinforcing dynamic is played by UN Quick Impact
Projects, usually managed synergistically by a Mission’ civil
affairs, rule of law, disarmament, demobilization and
reintegration, human rights, military and police components. In
the 2017-18 budgetary cycle, Quick Impact Projects amounted
to almost USD14 million worth of projects, focused on national
capacity-building at the local and state levels. All these projects
are coordinated by major Mission players and Country Teams,
and create job opportunities, revenues for communities and
generate support for national reconciliation. For example, in the
Central African Republic, they allow for reconstruction of
schools, town halls, police stations, water wells, and so on.
These ‘quick-win’ projects – often administered in close cooperation by the uniformed and civilian components
– help missions establish a relationship of trust with the local communities, facilitating the flow of information
and, ultimately, the achievement of the political objectives.
In addition to CIMIC officers in military and police unit, Heads of UN Missions usually designate a special
Chief Officer or even a unit (as
in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo) to deal with Quick
Impact Projects and other peace
support related programmatic
activities. These Officers and
units are expected to develop
appropriate operating
procedures, plans, delineation of
responsibilities and other
instruments facilitating effective
delivery. Furthermore, some
operations practice co-location,
a useful managerial tool which
may also involve development, human rights and other actors on the ground. At the Mission top, CIMIC-related
and similar integrated activities are coordinated by the Mission Senior Leadership Teams or Groups, often
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