Backgrounder: Canada’s commitments at the 2021 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial

Canada’s $85 million in new projects and contributions, as well as its renewed commitment on ongoing, multi-year support for UN peace operations and peacebuilding, is shaped by Canada’s feminist foreign policy, evidence and the collective experiences of peacekeepers themselves.

These renewed commitments will help advance the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, support specialized training and capacity building, protect civilians, particularly children, from the impact of conflict and violence and support countries’ peacebuilding priorities.

Canada recognizes the importance of supporting UN peace operations both through military and police support, and also through supporting UN peace operations reform and conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. Durable and inclusive peace cannot be achieved through military means alone.

Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

The UN Peacebuilding Fund is a mechanism that delivers fast and flexible funding to advance countries’ peacebuilding priorities, help prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.

UN Peacebuilding Fund (Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace)

Partners: UN Peacebuilding Fund and United Nations Development Programme Multi-Party Trust Fund

Funding announced: $70 million (2022-2025)

Canada is committing scale up and increase the predictability of its contributions to the UN Peacebuilding Fund to help support conflict prevention and peacebuilding activities that build social cohesion, empower women and youth peacebuilders and preserve peace gains during peacekeeping mission transitions. Canada will also continue to work with the UN and member states on options to secure predictable and sustainable financing for peacebuilding and conflict prevention.  

Women, Peace, and Security

Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations

Established in 2017, the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations is a pilot project that aims to increase uniformed women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations, with a focus on police and military roles.

Canada is extending and expanding its Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations to increase collaboration between the United Nations, member states and partners around the world. Building on significant global momentum to address barriers facing uniformed women, Canada is committed to the implementation of the United Nations Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy.

Promoting Gender-Sensitive Strategies, Policies and Training for UN Peacekeeping 

Partner: UN Department of Peace Operations

Funding announced: $2.7 million (2022 to 2024)

This project aims to create an inclusive workplace culture and support gender parity through an in-depth assessment of existing policies, leadership training, development and advocacy for the adoption of new strategies to enable transformative change. Championing gender equality for UN peace operations and political missions will not only improve work conditions for men and women, it will make UN operations more inclusive and responsive to the peace and security needs of the populations they serve.

Applying Gender Considerations to UN Camp Accommodations

Partner: UN Department of Operational Support

Funding announced: $4.97 million (2021 to 2023)

Canada is supporting the implementation of gender-responsive designs for infrastructure and accommodations in UN peace operations. This project improves the safety and well-being of all peacekeepers by improving numerous factors in the camps and contributing to safer workplaces and more receptive conditions.

Protection

Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers

Through its advocacy for the Vancouver Principles, Canada has led international efforts to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers in peacekeeping contexts. Since the launch of the Vancouver Principles, 105 UN member states have endorsed them, including 13 of the United Nations’ top 20 troop- and police-contributing countries. The Vancouver Principles must now be implemented in practice and streamlined across the UN system, for which Canada will provide multi-year support.

Integrating the Vancouver Principles into UN Peace Operations

Partner: United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations

Funding announced: $2.5 million

Canada is supporting the implementation of the Vancouver Principles into existing UN policy, guidance and training frameworks for child protection. This project aims to reduce the number of child recruits and child soldiers in countries where the UN conducts peacekeeping operations.

Performance

Canada is renewing its multi-year support of specialized training that responds to critical gaps identified by the United Nations. It is ensuring the application of a gender lens to training activities and capacity-building support.

Enhanced Training for Uniformed Medical Personnel

Partner: UN Institute for Training and Research

Funding announced: $3.4 million (2022 to 2024)

Canada’s funding will help address critical gaps in training of uniformed medical personnel deployed to high-threat UN peacekeeping missions and aims to reduce injuries and fatalities of UN peacekeepers. This project will provide intensive training and equipment for up to 8 troop-contributing countries on first aid, psychological dimensions of trauma and responses to sexual and gender-based violence.

Peacekeeping Training (Specialized Training and Technology)

Partner: Peace Operations Training Institute

Funding announced: $1.4 million (2022 to 2024)

This project aims to improve the capacity of UN peacekeepers through large-scale e-learning programs and related technologies, with a focus on the women, peace and security agenda; child protection; international humanitarian law; health; sexual and gender-based violence; sexual exploitation and abuse, among others, to enhance skills and knowledge of peacekeeping personnel. These courses promote accessibility and address training and capability gaps identified by the United Nations.