How DPA is Funded
Regular Budget Appropriations
The Department of Political Affairs and the field operations it manages are funded traditionally and primarily through the assessed contributions of UN Member States to the regular budget of the United Nations. The biennial budget for 2010-2011 came to approximately USD $81.2 million for DPA core staff and their activities based at UN Headquarters, and USD$345.2 million for "special political missions" under DPA's supervision, which include field-based political and peacebuilding missions, regional offices, special envoys and panels of experts mandated by the Security Council.
Budgetary increases were approved by the UN General Assembly in late-2008 in response to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's proposals to strengthen DPA . These were an important step in redressing chornic resource limitations.
Voluntary Contributions
Voluntary contributions have become a critical complementary source of financing for DPA in areas where the regular budget resources are insufficient to meet the demands on the Department.
With the introduction of its first Multi-Year Appeal (PDF) in November 2010, the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) is seeking to bolster its resource base to better meet growing challenges and demands in the areas of peacemaking, preventive diplomacy, elections and peacebuilding.
The Multi-Year Appeal introduces new and thematic funding windows, outlines fast-track procedures designed to support quick mediation and electoral engagements, and describes changes to DPA's trust fund architecture. This transformation also encompasses a more strategic approach to resource mobilization, planning, operational support to mediation, and better management of extra-budgetary resources. DPA is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the management and use of extra-budgetary funding.
The activities described in the Multi-Year Appeal allow DPA to fully play its role in the UN crisis response system by:
- Strengthening DPA's partnerships with entities such as UNDP and the Peacebuilding Support Office on the development of tools and support for integrated planning;
- Contributing to the implementation of key recommendations in the Secretary-General's Report on Peacebuilding in the Immediate Aftermath of Conflict;
- Strengthening DPA's partnerships with regional organizations to develop cooperation and capacity-building in mediation, conflict prevention and electoral assistance;
- Providing strategic political leadership to achieve coherent and well-coordinated support to mediation processes;
- Developing DPA's mediation and policy guidance capacity; and
- Guaranteeing pre-positioned funding to deploy mediators and their support staff at an early stage before disputes deteriorate into violent conflict.
- Improving the speed and quality of our response by facilitating access to knowledge and experiences of others.
The 2012 Update to the Multi-Year Appeal (PDF) highlights the achievements of DPA’s activities in 2011, which were heavily shaped by the political upheaval sweeping the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
How to donate
The Multi-Year Appeal is a mechanism that requires continuous contributions in order to maintain its activities in operation. Donors are invited to make general contributions to the Trust Fund In support of Political Affairs (SZA) or to earmark their donations according to one of the Clusters outlined above.
Importance of Voluntary Funding
