POLICY BRIEF 2019:4 Under the Blue Flag: Leadership and Strategic Communications in UN Peace Operations

Using a combination of public and internal source material and interviews with relevant UN stakeholders, this paper looks at the state of play of strategic communications for UN leadership in peace operations. It explains the existing communications architecture, highlights areas of weakness in the regime and recommends a new, more integrated and holistic approach while explaining the overall requirements and rationale for this shift.

Strengthening the UN’s efforts to promote effective strategic communications by and from leadership in peace operations will helpthe system deter spoilers, address its critics, rally its supporters, maximize opportunities and leverage all available resources to help vulnerable populations have a fighting chance for peace.