Post-Conflict Co-ordination -- The Case of the United Nations Mine Action Service: Lessons Learned

The main purpose of this review is to assess the lessons learned and best practices from the United Nations Mine Action Service's "United Nations focal point" role that might be useful for others trying to co-ordinate the activities of various UN and non-UN agencies on a single issue. This study is not an exhaustive review of the mine action sector, but a targeted analysis of key issues that are likely to recur when integrating different parts of the United Nations system and beyond into a single system and carrying out focal point functions. Thus, the best practices of UNMAS are applicable to other sectors, particularly to operational components of post-conflict interventions where political buy-in, consistency in approach and legitimacy of UN actions are pertinent. Specific areas of focus include inter-agency and sectoral policy-making and strategy development, management of personnel and logistics, resource mobilisation, linkages between assessed and voluntary mechanisms and public information.