With 322 delegates in attendance, the 6th International Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping Symposium was the largest one to date.
Held in Tshwane, South Africa, from 21 to 24 June, this annual event is a joint initiative of the Department of Operational Support (DOS) and the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) to showcase field-oriented technology initiatives and to generate feedback and discussion with interested Member States.
In addition to the host nation, 43 Member States sent representatives: 23 from Africa, nine from Asia, seven from Europe, three from the Americas, and one from Australia/Oceania.
Under the theme Informed – Aware – Effective, the event built upon the momentum from prior symposia.
Five major themes were examined:
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Protecting Peacekeepers
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Information-Driven Peace Operations
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Integrated Training and Capacity Building
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Eco-responsibility
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Telemedicine
More than 250 delegates actively participated in the breakout sessions dedicated to these themes. The working groups ranged from 20 to 90 participants.
Seventeen presenters, including six from South Africa, addressed the plenary sessions, representing the UN Secretariat, Member States, academia, and think tanks. Presentations covered challenges in peace operations and how technology can help address them.
Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare and the Republic of South Africa Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise presided over the opening and closing ceremonies.
Bernardo Mariano, Jr., Assistant Secretary-General, Chief Information Technology Officer; General Birame Diop, Assistant Secretary-General, Military Adviser; Chandramouli Ramanathan, Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget & Controller; and Christian Saunders, Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, also participated.
The symposium, the first held in Africa, was deemed a major success, especially considering the underlying challenges related to COVID-19 travel restrictions and health protocols at the event venue.
Detailed thematic reports on the outcomes of the symposium will be shared with Member States and UN stakeholders through official UN communication channels.
The 7th International Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping Symposium will be hosted by Nepal in 2023. It is expected to include the Department of Peace Operations' Digital Transformation Strategy effort.
Visit the Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping website to learn more about the International Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping Symposium and the DOS and OICT initiative.
