Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) is a reform initiative launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2018 to renew political commitment to UN peacekeeping and address persistent shortcomings in mandate delivery, troop safety, and mission effectiveness. It responded to a long-running diagnosis — echoed in the 2015 HIPPO (High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations) report — that peacekeeping had become overstretched, under-resourced, and politically adrift.
At the heart of A4P is the Declaration of Shared Commitments on UN Peacekeeping Operations, endorsed by 151 member states and four organisations. The Declaration organises commitments around eight thematic priorities:
- Advancing political solutions to conflict
- Women, peace and security
- Strengthening the protection mandate
- Improving safety and security of peacekeepers
- Performance and accountability of all stakeholders
- Strengthening the impact of peacekeeping on sustaining peace
- Improving partnerships, including with the African Union and regional bodies
- Improving the conduct of operations and personnel
In March 2021 Guterres launched A4P+ (Action for Peacekeeping Plus), a two-year implementation strategy (2021–2023) identifying seven priorities, including strategic and operational integration, accountability to peacekeepers, accountability of peacekeepers, public communication, partnerships, and support for transitions when missions draw down.
A4P is not a treaty or Security Council resolution; it is a political framework that shapes mandate renewals, Troop- and Police-Contributing Country (T/PCC) engagement, and the work of the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). Delegates often invoke A4P language when negotiating mission mandates in the C-34 Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the Fifth Committee. Critics note that voluntary commitments have produced uneven results, particularly on protection of civilians in missions like MINUSMA (Mali) and MONUSCO (DRC), and on accountability for sexual exploitation and abuse.
Example
In 2018, Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia — three of the largest troop contributors — were among the 151 member states that endorsed the A4P Declaration of Shared Commitments.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is a political framework built around a voluntary Declaration of Shared Commitments, not a treaty or Security Council resolution, though its language increasingly appears in mandate texts.
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