ZIF strengthens international partnerships for peace operations
ZIF Executive Director Astrid Irrgang and Annika Hansen, Deputy Head of Policy, Partnerships & Innovation, met partners in New York in order to strengthening cooperation and enhancing international peace operations. Discussions with the UN Secretariat, member states, and civil society reaffirmed a strong commitment to implementing the Pact of the Future and improving multilateral crisis response worldwide.
International Cooperation Against Terrorism
The Permanent Mission of Austria, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) invited to a high-level dialogue on “Terrorism as a Strategic Risk and Driver of Conflict” on January 28-29, 2025, at the Greentree Foundation in New York. The aim was to strengthen networked multilateralism in combating terrorism and extremism. Astrid Irrgang set the scene at the opening panel and moderated a session on national and regional approaches to counter-terrorism and their implications for peacebuilding. Participants emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that involves both governmental and societal actors. Key takeaways included the urgent need to implement the Pact for the Future as a tool for counter-terrorism, the call for enhanced cooperation within the UN and with regional and subregional organizations and the need for a better integration of counter-terrorism efforts with peace, sustainable development, and human rights agendas.
New peace operation models, local approaches and actors, innovative peace strategies: presentation of key insights of the Challenges Annual Forum 2024
On January 31, around 120 experts from member states, think tanks, and the UN system convened to discuss the results of the last Challenges Annual Forum (CAF24) that has taken place in Berlin in December 2024. Moderated by Annika Hansen, the event provided a platform for in-depth discussions on new peace operation models, political prioritization, and rebuilding trust between host governments and local populations.
In two discussion rounds, high-level UN officials and diplomats called on member states to deliver on their commitments under the Pact for the Future. The event also focused on innovative peace strategies and the challenge of embedding political solutions in a long-term and sustainable manner.
Memorandum of Understanding with UNDP: German personnel for crisis interventions
In bilateral meetings, the ZIF delegation explored avenues for cooperation, particularly in preparation for the Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial and the future of UN peace operations. A highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), enabling future ZIF secondments to UNDP. The agreement was formalized by Astrid Irrgang and Shoko Noda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau.
Through these initiatives, ZIF underscores its commitment to strengthening international peace and security structures.