UNITED NATIONS STAND-BY

ARRANGEMENTS SYSTEM (UNSAS)

BackgroundBackground

ConceptConcept

PurposePurpose

ResourcesResources

ReportsReports

LevelsLevels

MOU TemplateMOU Template

SummarySummary

DiscussionsDiscussions

Scope

To provide a brief overview of the United To provide a brief overview of the United

Nations Standby Arrangement System Nations Standby Arrangement System

(UNSAS).(UNSAS).

Aim

In 1992, in the “Agenda for Peace”, the Secretary-In 1992, in the “Agenda for Peace”, the Secretary-General stated a requirement for troops to be available General stated a requirement for troops to be available to the UN at short notice, capable of intervening to the UN at short notice, capable of intervening quickly and efficiently where and when necessary.quickly and efficiently where and when necessary.

In 1993, following the Brahimi Report, the General In 1993, following the Brahimi Report, the General Assembly ordered the establishment of United Nations Assembly ordered the establishment of United Nations Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS). Standby Arrangement System (UNSAS).

In 2000 the database for UNSAS was made functional. In 2000 the database for UNSAS was made functional. This data base was on a stand-alone computer.This data base was on a stand-alone computer.

The UNSAS Data base is now being upgraded (since The UNSAS Data base is now being upgraded (since Sep 2010) into a web based system allowing the TCC Sep 2010) into a web based system allowing the TCC to interactively upload their pledges/contributions.to interactively upload their pledges/contributions.

Background

The The United Nations Stand-by Arrangements United Nations Stand-by Arrangements

((UNSAS) is based on UNSAS) is based on conditional pledgesconditional pledges by by

Member States (MS) to contribute specific Member States (MS) to contribute specific

resources within resources within agreed response timeagreed response time and and

restrictionsrestrictions in UN PKO. in UN PKO.

However, the final decision to actually However, the final decision to actually

deploy the resources or not deploy the resources or not still remains a still remains a

national decisionnational decision..

Concept

Provides a precise Provides a precise understandingunderstanding of the forces and capabilities of the forces and capabilities a MS will have available, at a given state of readiness, for a MS will have available, at a given state of readiness, for deployment from the home country, should it agree to contribute deployment from the home country, should it agree to contribute to a Peace Keeping Operations.to a Peace Keeping Operations.

Facilitates DPKO’s efforts in Facilitates DPKO’s efforts in mission planningmission planning and the actual and the actual force generation processforce generation process and also contributes to the rapid and also contributes to the rapid deployment of resources.deployment of resources.

Allows the MS to Allows the MS to plan, budget, train and prepareplan, budget, train and prepare its personnel its personnel for a possible contribution to a UN PKO for a possible contribution to a UN PKO and, if necessary, to and, if necessary, to arrange for the acquisition of the necessary equipment required arrange for the acquisition of the necessary equipment required for UN PKOs.for UN PKOs.

It provides the UN with a list of It provides the UN with a list of potential options/alternatives potential options/alternatives

which enables the UN planners to develop which enables the UN planners to develop contingencycontingency and fall- and fall-

back strategies in case of anticipated delaysback strategies in case of anticipated delays

Purpose

UNSAS consists of arrangements negotiated between the UN UNSAS consists of arrangements negotiated between the UN and individual MS. The resources agreed upon remain on and individual MS. The resources agreed upon remain on “stand-by” in the Home Country“stand-by” in the Home Country..

Pledges can be general or for specific appointments as Pledges can be general or for specific appointments as preferred by the MS. The pledged resources are of three main preferred by the MS. The pledged resources are of three main categories:categories:

• Operational units (AD, Armd, Arty, HQ, Inf, Marines, Operational units (AD, Armd, Arty, HQ, Inf, Marines, Naval Recce Units and Special Forces).Naval Recce Units and Special Forces).

• Support units (Air Svc, Comms, Engrs, Catering Svcs, Support units (Air Svc, Comms, Engrs, Catering Svcs, Health Svcs, Logistics, Maint Movt Control, Navy Aux, Health Svcs, Logistics, Maint Movt Control, Navy Aux, Police, Supply and Transportation units).Police, Supply and Transportation units).

• Individuals (Milobs, Milads, Arms Monitor, LO).Individuals (Milobs, Milads, Arms Monitor, LO).

MS retain responsibility of stand-by resources and the UN MS retain responsibility of stand-by resources and the UN does not pay till they are deployed.does not pay till they are deployed.

Resources

Information pledges to UNSAS is used by military planners to Information pledges to UNSAS is used by military planners to propose the most appropriate capability to meet the operational propose the most appropriate capability to meet the operational requirement of the UN and to plan deployment. To do this requirement of the UN and to plan deployment. To do this effectively, information must be up to date.effectively, information must be up to date.

A system of quarterly updates (Jan, April, Jul and Oct) by MS is A system of quarterly updates (Jan, April, Jul and Oct) by MS is used to ensure that the information held in the UNSAS database used to ensure that the information held in the UNSAS database is up to date. MS are normally alerted to submit their (fax/mail) is up to date. MS are normally alerted to submit their (fax/mail) updates early enough. updates early enough.

Pledges which are not possible due to national commitments, Pledges which are not possible due to national commitments, caveats or any other reason are not required to be included in the caveats or any other reason are not required to be included in the quarterly updates.quarterly updates.

If MS does not update pledges, they are considered to be the If MS does not update pledges, they are considered to be the same as they were in the last updated quarter.same as they were in the last updated quarter.

UNSAS DATA IS AS RELIABLE AS PLEDGES/UPDATES PROVIDED UNSAS DATA IS AS RELIABLE AS PLEDGES/UPDATES PROVIDED MSMS..

Reports

The key element in the system of the standby The key element in the system of the standby arrangements is the arrangements is the bilateral exchange of detailed bilateral exchange of detailed informationinformation to facilitate planning and preparation for to facilitate planning and preparation for both participating Member State and United Nations.both participating Member State and United Nations.

The UNSAS scale corresponds to The UNSAS scale corresponds to informationinformation provided about pledges in regards to capabilities, provided about pledges in regards to capabilities, organisation, movement data, self-sufficiency and organisation, movement data, self-sufficiency and major equipment. major equipment.

There are three conventional levels (1, 2 and 3) of There are three conventional levels (1, 2 and 3) of commitment by MS to UNSAS and a Level of Rapid commitment by MS to UNSAS and a Level of Rapid Deployment.Deployment.

UNSAS Levels of Commitment

Level 1:Level 1: Provides a list of capabilities (size, Provides a list of capabilities (size, strength, and response time) of the pledges strength, and response time) of the pledges made available to the UN.made available to the UN.

Level 2:Level 2: Provides detailed inventory lists of the Provides detailed inventory lists of the pledges including the organization of the units, a pledges including the organization of the units, a list of major equipment, level of self-sufficiency, list of major equipment, level of self-sufficiency, and data on individuals. and data on individuals.

Level 3:Level 3: Provides for a signed MOU giving details Provides for a signed MOU giving details

of capabilities & resources pledged. of capabilities & resources pledged.

UNSAS Levels of Commitment

Resources pledged by MS in this level can be Resources pledged by MS in this level can be deployed to a UN Mission within 30/90 days of a SC deployed to a UN Mission within 30/90 days of a SC Mandate, following the appropriate government Mandate, following the appropriate government approval. approval.

The Level enables both the Secretariat and the MS The Level enables both the Secretariat and the MS to save time through detailed pre-deployment to save time through detailed pre-deployment planning and preparation of a draft MOU.planning and preparation of a draft MOU.

NB: RDL units are those units for which a “draft NB: RDL units are those units for which a “draft MOU” has been negotiated and “cargo load lists” MOU” has been negotiated and “cargo load lists” have been submitted by the TCC.have been submitted by the TCC.

Rapid Deployment Level

I. PURPOSETHE PURPOSE OF THE MOU IS TO IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES WHICH THE MEMBER STATE HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL PROVIDE TO THE UN FOR USE IN PKO UNDER THE SPECIFIED CONDITIONS.

II. DESCRIPTION OF RESOURCESTHE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE RESOURCES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE MEMBER STATE IS SET OUT IN THE ANNEX TO THE MOU. IN THE PREPARATION OF THE ANNEX, THE MEMBER STATE AND THE UN, HAVE FOLLOWED THE GUIDELINES FOR THE PROVISION OF RESOURCES FOR UN PKO.

III. CONDITION OF PROVISIONTHE FINAL DECISION WHETHER TO ACTUALLY DEPLOY THE RESOURCES BY THE MEMBER STATE REMAINS A NATIONAL DECISION.

IV. ENTRY INTO FORCETHE PRESENT MOU SHALL ENTER INTO FORCE ON THE DATE OF ITS SIGNATURE.

V. MODIFICATIONTHE PRESENT MOU INCLUDING THE ANNEX, MAY BE MODIFIED AT ANY TIME BY THE PARTIES THROUGH EXCHANGE OF LETTERS.

VI. TERMINATION THE MOU MAY BE TERMINATED AT ANY TIME BY EITHER PARTY, SUBJECT TO A PERIOD OF NOTIFICATION OF NOT LESS THAN 3 MONTHS TO THE OTHER PARTY.

UNSAS MOU TEMPLATE

Conventional LevelsConventional Levels: 89: 89• Level 1: 24Level 1: 24• Level 2: 8Level 2: 8• Level 3: 57Level 3: 57

RDLRDL: 4: 4

Summary of UNSAS MS

STEPS IN SIGNING UNSAS MS

Step 1:Step 1: UN Secretariat discusses with MS UNSAS UN Secretariat discusses with MS UNSAS system.system.

Step 2:Step 2: UN Secretariat provides the MS with UNSAS MOU UN Secretariat provides the MS with UNSAS MOU and other documents. and other documents.

Step 3:Step 3: MS coordinates with the capital in regards to the MS coordinates with the capital in regards to the contents of the MOU. contents of the MOU.

Step 4:Step 4: MS informs Secretariat of the decision and a MS informs Secretariat of the decision and a date is set for the signing of the MOU. date is set for the signing of the MOU. USG-DPKO and USG-DPKO and

Minister usually signs the MOU. Minister usually signs the MOU. COORDINATION IS COORDINATION IS KEY AT THIS STAGE.KEY AT THIS STAGE.

DISCUSSION