15th DSRSG dialogue in Berlin: ZIF and UNSSC bring together UN Deputy Special Representatives

Under the heading ‘Unpacking the Pact’, the 15th DSRSG Dialogue took place in Berlin from 14 to 15 October 2024. 14 Deputy Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General (DSRSGs) and representatives from UN Headquarters came together to discuss current challenges and developments in UN peacekeeping missions. Every year, this event is jointly organised by the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and ZIF and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

The discussions highlighted the complex challenges facing peace operations today and the great commitment of the DSRSGs in their work. In her opening speech, Anka Feldhusen, Commissioner for Crisis Prevention and Stabilisation at the Federal Foreign Office, emphasised the importance of integrating various crisis management instruments, in particular peace operations and peacebuilding, in order to achieve greater coherence in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

The DSRSGs welcomed the Pact for the Future adopted by the UN General Assembly last month as an important step for the further development of peacekeeping missions and reaffirmed their commitment to the fundamental values of the United Nations. In open dialogues, the participants discussed how the changing geopolitical situation will affect future peace missions and what specific challenges exist in the respective mission areas. These assessments and the knowledge gained from the missions will enrich the Challenges Annual Forum 2024 at the beginning of December, which ZIF is hosting this year. The discussions also provided important insights for the preparations for the Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 in Berlin. 

‘We are very proud to be able to help shape the DSRSG dialogue every year,’ said Dr Astrid Irrgang, Managing Director of ZIF. ‘As ZIF, we not only second civilian personnel to missions, but also think strategically and holistically about them. The exchange at the highest level with the deputy mission commanders is a format of great value for us and also for the DSRSGs themselves. Their knowledge and experience of operations on the ground is the best resource for the further development of peace missions.’