Final: 31 July 2015
UN Working Group on Transitions
Monday, 16 July 2015, 11:30 – 1 pm (NYT)
Meeting summary
Participants
Chairs
Co-chair
Izumi Nakamitsu
Co-chair
Oscar Fernandez Taranco
Agency
Representatives
PBSO
Henk-Jan Brinkman
PBSO
Stephen Jackson
PBSO
Felicia Gordon
UNICEF
Sharif Baaser
UNICEF
Hamish Young
UNHCR
John Solecki
UNEP
Matti Lehtonen
UNDP
Katy Thompson
WFP
Karin Manente
UN-HABITAT
Bernadette Gordyn
UNFPA
Henia Dakkak
DPA
Francesc Claret
UNWOMEN
Tatyana Jiteneva
ILO
Terje Tessem (via bridge-line)
UNESCO
Ricardo de Guimaraes Pinto
OHCHR (from GVA)
Mary Kalemkerian
Invitees
UNDG Senior Coordinator on ‘Fit for Purpose’
John Hendra
IOM
Lea Matheson
IOM
Amy Muedin
CEB Secretariat
Kayo Gotoh
Secretariat
UNDOCO
Sara Ferrer Olivella
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Agreements and Action points
‘Fit for Purpose’
The purpose of the meeting was to clarify the contributions of the UN Working Group on Transitions
(WGT) to the different review processes in order to avoid duplication and to meet expected deadlines.
This meeting builds on the discussions of the ad hoc WGT meeting that took place on 6 July.
The meeting discussed key issues raised in the review of the High-Level Independent Panel on UN Peace
Operations (HIPPO) and the report of the Advisory Group of Experts (AGE) on the Peacebuilding
Architecture and identified the contributions of the WGT going forward with the view to operationalize
the recommendations made in these reports.
The role of the WGT is seen as critical to framing the issues and feeding into the report of the SG on the
HIPPO report. The recommendations emerging from the SG report are fundamental to influence the
thinking of Member States on peace, development and human rights.
The Co-Chair highlighted discussions in a meeting on 2 July led by Louise Fréchette, the former DSG and
lead author of the SG Report, and her team. At the meeting, it was clarified that this report will not
address longer-term recommendations with implications on the re-structuring of the UN Secretariat nor
specific financing issues. The Co-Chair indicated that the contribution of the WGT to this report needs to
focus on big picture issues and to develop a common understanding and acceptance on the peace
operations concept. This is a critical step to ensure a broader understanding later by Member States that
peace operations are a continuum beyond peacekeeping operations, and include programmes of the UN
development system.
The Co-Chair stressed the importance of framing the discussion and developing a common
understanding on what the principal problems are. What is currently not working and what needs to be
fixed? The two reports provide well substantiated data and evidence to articulate the framing and
recommendations from the WGT. It was also mentioned the need to stay away from contentious issues
(e.g. financing formulas, etc.) in order to avoid delay the recommendations.
The AGE report frames the concept of peacebuilding as ‘sustaining peace’ before, during and after
conflict, which is very helpful to the WGT and its vision on transitions, which begin the minute a
peacekeeping mission is planned, and continues through set up and phase out. Peacebuilding is not just
the business of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund or the Peacebuilding Support
Office, but it is a fundamental issue embedded in the UN Charter and as such it is expected to engage all
relevant UN organs and entities.
A cluster of issues emerging from the report were presented around the following themes:
 Fragmentation: within the UN system, between HQ and the field and among Member States;
 Leadership on the ground with strong support from HQ;
 Common UN analysis of the situation and its root causes;
 Common planning and financing;
 Capacities; and
 Partnerships and ownership.
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UNDP stressed the importance of broadening the framing of the discussion beyond paring down peace
operations and the size of missions because they are too expensive, towards framing the discussion in
terms of the root causes of conflict and what needs to be done.
DPA emphasized the need to have a broader picture of the situation, and that the understanding of the
situation not be limited to programmes. DPA underscored the need to develop a common narrative
building on the HIPPO and AGE reports, including a common vision on what is a viable political solution.
The integration of the system is key and it involves a range of UN organs and tools that are available,
which need to be tailored to ensure the best tool is used at a given moment. The political role of the RC
needs to be fully recognized and supported. There is a sense on the need to reflect on progress to date
of integration.
ILO emphasized the need to acknowledge the role of development in early peacebuilding efforts (e.g.
job creation) and to further elaborate the role of specialized agencies in the report. The need for a
common root-cause analysis of conflict was further stressed to bring dimensions such as poverty and
social exclusion, as well as sub-national tensions or factors, into the analysis.
John Hendra agreed with the overall framing of the AGE report in terms of “sustaining peace”. He
reiterated the importance of this opportunity to re-conceptualize the issue along purpose and functions.
The input of the WG on Transitions to the SG’s report on the QCPR is fundamental. He referred to
further analysis to be undertaken in terms of common root-cause analysis and along the lines of
leadership, empowerment and capacities. He also mentioned the need to start thinking along the lines
of implications for a differentiated country support when it comes to the continuum of peace,
development and humanitarian pillars.
WFP reiterated some of the issues raised earlier including the need to consider or postpone discussions
on strengthening the RC role in view of structural and governance implications; financing seen as a
positive force for integration; and the need to develop a common understanding on the
situation/vulnerabilities. WFP also mentioned that the FfD outcome document already stressed the
need for more coherence between humanitarian and development funding which could be built on.
The Co-Chair acknowledged that the ongoing global processes, such as SDGs, FfD, etc., are currently
shaping an evolving context, and are an opportunity for the UN development system to put forth critical
issues to Member States with recommendations for pointed changes in the UN system to function
properly.
The Co-Chairs proposed a joint, 1-2 page note from the WGT to Ms. Fréchette by the end of next week.
Action Points

A matrix with common recommendations from the HIPPO and AGE reports will be circulated to
the WGT.

A chart with all the reviews and processes will be circulated as an annex to this summary note.
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
It was agreed that a draft 1-2 page note would be prepared by PBSO and UNDP, and would be
circulated early the following week to the WGT for comments. The HIPPO and AGE reports will
serve as the basis to articulate the note and framing vision for the SG’s report. The note should
take account of the issues raised at the meeting including:
o Common analysis on the root causes of conflict;
o Purpose/functions;
o Common planning;
o Common financing;
o Financing gap;
o Strategic leadership and empowerment of the UN RC; and
o Leave no one behind as a driver for integration.

In response to the UNDG ASG Retreat request, the WGT will work on a broader note (as agreed
in the meeting of 6 July) in August/September to feed into the QCPR discussions. A skeleton
outline will be prepared and circulated to the group for comments
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