Economic Reconstruction

Violent conflicts damage economies and infrastructures of the affected countries and regions, undermining the generation of incomes and the provision of basic services to the population. Therefore, peace operations are frequently tasked to contribute to economic reconstruction. They also contributed to >Institutional Capacity Building and Governance, as well as to the mobilization of international support.  

In the short term, this is about providing shelter, electricity, water, and traffic infrastructure. The UN missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Mali (MINUSMA) and the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) have carried out Quick Impact Projects (QUIPs). They aim to produce immediate and tangible result for the populace, thus stabilizing the situation.  

A few missions in the past were mandated with the direct administration of territories, such as the UN Transitional Administration in Timor-Leste (UNTAET) or the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). They took responsibility for comprehensive economic reconstruction and development activities, including private sector promotion, infrastructure development, the protection of property rights and economic sector regulation.  

OSCE peace operations are based on a comprehensive concept of security, encompassing three dimensions: (1) the politico-military dimension, (2) the economic and environmental dimension, and (3) the human dimension. Activities in the second dimension aim at preventing conflict by intensifying economic cooperation. OSCE presences in the post-Soviet space are particularly active in this area. 

Increasingly, UN peace operations are part of “integrated presences”, in which they are closely linked with the UN Country Team that unites all UN agencies in their area of operation. This allows missions to take advantage of, for example, the UN Development Programme’s economic expertise for their own work.  

As of 29.08.2025

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