UNITED NATIONS, July 18 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that as UN missions are drawn down and eventually closed, stronger partnerships are needed to ensure that countries recovering from conflict can transition successfully to a phase of durable peace and development.
The UN is putting a stronger focus on transition periods, when the UN reconfigures its missions, or leaves a country, the UN chief told a Security Council meeting on strengthening partnerships for successful nationally-owned transitions.
Guterres said the UN's ongoing reform process is leading to more "joined-up engagement," from the deployment of peace missions to their reconfiguration and eventual withdrawal.
The UN chief emphasized the importance of partnerships and close collaboration between the UN and host governments in ensuring successful transitions.
"We must prioritize and strengthen partnerships with national stakeholders, across the UN system and with international financial institutions, and with member states, for collective action to ensure their success," said the secretary-general.
Strong partnerships can help avoid a drop-off in support as the UN reduces or alters its presence in a country, he added.
Countries that are "healing after conflict may face urgent and complex challenges," and need support to address the "root causes of conflict" in areas such as political leadership, strong institutions and sustainable development, the UN chief said.
Guterres cited the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework as a "central tool" for support.
He insisted that the UN's role in transitions must be "comprehensive and coherent," and work in an integrated way to address the drivers of conflict, which include "poverty, exclusion, inequality, discrimination and violations of human rights, exacerbated by climate change and the movement of people."
