IPI, in partnership with the French Ministry of Armed Forces, cohosted the 2023 Peacekeeping Observatory Annual Workshop on November 7, 2023. The full-day workshop examined the interlinkages between peacekeeping operations and new technology. The hybrid event convened over fifty participants, including UN personnel, member-state representatives, and independent experts from civil society organizations.
The purpose of the workshop was to brief member states on developments in the implementation of the UN Strategy for the Digital Transformation of Peacekeeping, discuss opportunities and challenges in utilizing new technologies for mandate implementation, and generate ideas for future uses of technologies in peace operations settings. This workshop also provided an opportunity for member states to learn about and discuss the importance of new technologies in peacekeeping in advance of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, which was held in Accra, Ghana, on December 5–6, 2023.
The workshop was divided into three sessions:
Session 1: Taking stock of the implementation of the UN Strategy for the Digital Transformation of Peacekeeping
This session featured UN officials from the Digital Transformation team and provided an update on current areas of work, including digital technologies, data and analysis for early warning, and mis- and disinformation in peacekeeping, among others. In addition to discussing opportunities and challenges for the implementation of the Digital Transformation, the session included an overview of the findings from the issue brief on the “Responsible Management and Use of Data in UN Peace Operations,” authored by Kseniya Oksamytna (linked below).
Session 2: Envisioning the future of integrating new technologies into peacekeeping, balancing innovation and pragmatism
This session provided an opportunity to look ahead toward potential new technologies in peacekeeping, including cybersecurity, AI, and the use of satellite imagery as a source of early warning. In addition to discussing both the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging technologies, the session also included a discussion on how to balance innovation with pragmatism when it comes to integrating technology into UN peacekeeping operations.
Session 3: Looking ahead to the Peacekeeping Ministerial and the importance of new technologies in peacekeeping
The final session served as a bridge between the publications and workshop sessions, and the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial, which was held just weeks after the workshop on December 5-6 in Accra, Ghana. Within this session, a UN official working on the Ministerial preparations briefed member states on how they could translate the focus on technology into concrete pledges. The linkages between the workshop and the Ministerial were particularly apt given the Ministerial’s strong focus on the provision of specialized equipment, training, and capabilities for UN peacekeeping operations.
As part of the 2023 Peacekeeping Observatory Project, IPI is publishing three issue briefs on topics related to UN peace operations and new technology: “Responsible Management and Use of Data in UN Peace Operations,” authored by Kseniya Oksamytna and (2) “New Technologies and the Protection of Civilians in UN Peace Operations,” authored by Agathe Sarfati. The third paper: “Cybersecurity in UN Peace Operations,” authored by Dirk Druet, is forthcoming.
The Peacekeeping Observatory is a multiyear IPI project examining emerging issues and challenges in peace operations. It is funded by the French Ministry of Armed Forces. IPI plans to focus on the topic of implementing the New Agenda for Peace in peace operations for the 2024 cycle of the Peacekeeping Observatory project.
777 United Nations Plaza, New York
