In an example of its work on conflict prevention, the Department of Political Affairs is working alongside other U.N. partners to assist the South American country of Guyana in overcoming long-standing social and political tensions.

DPA provides funding and political guidance to the Social Cohesion Programme (SCP) developed and carried out in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The SCP, launched in 2003, is the first operational project of the inter-agency United Nations Framework Team for Early Warning and Conflict Prevention. It is implemented by UNDP in Guyana in coordination with the whole of the U.N. Country Team.

The Programme works with a range of Guyanese partners (including the Government, the National Assembly, the Ethnic Relations Commission, civil society, the media and political parties) to support the implementation of constitutional reforms, increased access of citizens to security and justice, and the building of national capacity for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The SCP focuses on building the capacity of Guyanese actors at the national, regional and community level, to work towards consensus around particularly divisive issues, especially during the lead-up to the 2006 presidential elections.