YouSaid · the spoken record

Malcorra

lines on the record: 134
first: 2008-10-28
most recent: 2016-05-11
sittings or episodes: 13
sources: un-security-council

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“If mandate makers, policy setters, budget developers and troop and police contributors do not share a vision of what the joint endeavour is, then the mixed signals become extremely difficult to resource and organize around, and building a most effective and efficient support mechanism will probably remain as elusive as ever. The costs of a lack of common vision are high and efficiencies harder to find. As in all enterprises, support strategists and resource providers are at their most effective when treated as strategic enablers and brought into the dialogue early. On top of that, we must be able to agree on a contract of mutual trust as the basis of our work together. Today's discussion should also be the start of a dialogue that is sustained across the various organs of the United Nations.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Support is not an end in itself, and DFS is not an island. The support concept works only as a key component in this wider partnership. Without strong working relations with troop- and police-contributing countries and the broader United Nations family, and without the full support of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Fifth Committee, the support lines to peacekeeping quickly crumble. In the support business - perhaps more than for anyone else in this equation - we will only ever be as effective as the common vision that guides this joint venture. If we are not clear on the nature of the enterprise we are supporting, the challenge of finding the most appropriate support models is compounded.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“With the Department of Management, we are also working to develop a framework for procurement governance more suited to the supply needs of the field. Finally, I think we may want to pursue a more in- depth examination of the funding arrangements for peace operations, the use of trust funds, memorandums of understanding and partnership models. On that last point, I would like to return to the idea of United Nations peacekeeping as a complex international partnership in which many different actors play an important role. From my corporate background, I might call that a joint venture: a shared enterprise in which we all have equity and a share of the resources, direction and control. This joint venture, as Alain mentioned, must be strengthened to better ready ourselves for challenges both today and tomorrow.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Lastly, there could be a smarter approach to technology by using different applications in the provision of aviation tasks, equipment usage, military support and rapid response. Technology must be an enabler of business, particularly in the environments where we deploy. These are, I believe, fully in line with the first track of issues Alain mentioned on which concrete and urgent actions are required this year. In addition, we intend to move quickly in implementing the provisions of the recent General Assembly resolution, which, we hope, will pave the way for a more flexible, mobile workforce and address the excessive vacancy and turnover rates we are experiencing in critical field positions.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“The strategy, which we intend to share with Member States later this year, will explore a number of themes. First, the notion of support hubs could provide logistics and administrative support services from more secure locations to missions in the region, rather than attempting to recreate a full support structure in each and every mission. Secondly, there could be greater delegation of managerial and administrative authority to managers in the field, while ensuring that appropriate training is provided in advance and that predefined monitoring and oversight mechanisms are in place. Thirdly, there could be a diversified approach to sourcing goods and services required for field missions from local, regional and international sources through greater use of partnerships and a broader set of suppliers and service providers.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“I am, however, afraid that with the magnitude of the operational challenges before us, the urgent ones often trump a more thorough assessment of the important ones. By this I mean finding a more strategic approach to doing our business; exploring new, more efficient and effective ways of working; doing it right and fast; achieving the kinds of economies of scale one would expect from a global operation of more than $7 billion; partnering with Member States, others in the United Nations family, regional organizations, civil society and others in meeting the support challenge; and finding a regulatory framework which is strong yet agile, and prudent yet reasonable. To address those concerns, we are making a concerted effort to develop the details of the support strategy.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“In addition to challenges posed by infrastructure, security, terrain, climate and social fabric, for the first time the United Nations has been requested to provide logistical support to a regional organization with a significant level of resources attached to it. On a systemic level, we often struggle with the competing priorities of deploying troops, setting up the necessary infrastructure and negotiating with the host nation. Sometimes, troops are deployed prematurely because of mandate commencement pressures, but without having first secured the necessary agreements, for example, on usage of land. At other times, sequencing questions arise over whether an engineering company should deploy first to establish a battalion campsite or whether security elements move in first to protect the engineers and the list of challenges goes on.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Abe'che' is 2,400 kilometres from the nearest port, roughly the same distance as between London and Moscow. The sea-land route, known as the Douala corridor, connecting the Cameroonian port of Douala to Abeche', is approximately the same distance - 2,400 kilometres - of which only 900 kilometres have railroads. Aside from poor road conditions, the Douala corridor is, in relative terms, one of the world's most expensive commercial transportation routes. In Somalia, without prejudging the outcome of the technical assessment mission, we can well imagine that supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia will require logistics, resources and efforts that surpass even those being made in Darfur and Chad.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Perhaps one of the advantages of having DFS at the table is that it can provide a reality check to discussions. In this spirit, I would like to offer some concrete illustrations which I hope demonstrate the magnitude of the support challenges before us. In Darfur, thousands of kilometres from the nearest seaport, we must move heavy equipment and supplies for the construction of 35 camps, which are required to house our almost 26,000 troops and police. The road networks are unreliable and unsafe; the existing airfield infrastructure is poor and the wet season halts movement and construction progress for up to four months a year. At a certain point during the deployment, we had 8,000 containers making this journey. We face an even greater test in neighbouring Chad.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“The fact that this process has taken place at the same time as peacekeeping has undergone a 30 per cent increase in the authorized strength of its personnel has truly tested the limits of the new structure. The new missions - the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad - are two of the most complex and difficult operations ever contemplated by the United Nations. The task of moving materiel and people in these regions would challenge the most solid, stable and mature of structures. With a new and untried support concept emerging from the recent resolution 1863 (2009), on Somalia, a country even more challenged by security and infrastructure constraints, DFS has an even more daunting task ahead in the year to come.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“We must be able to find a way to reconcile results with compliance and getting things done with due process. While I agree that we are not in a crisis, we are nevertheless under great strain. We need to reflect, take stock and think deeply about the way forward. I will be the first to acknowledge that the new DFS is still finding its feet and that we have some way to go. A more elaborate assessment of the restructuring exercise will be put before the General Assembly this spring, but let me just say at this juncture that putting in place a new structure, new staff and new systems and properly embedding these changes takes time and perseverance under any circumstances.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“The challenges laid out by Alain are indeed daunting - even intimidating - and no less important for DFS: the rapid expansion in breadth, scope and complexity of missions; an increasingly hostile security landscape in a number of different locations; and the gap between the scope of the mandates and the resources available to perform them. From the support perspective, I would also add to that list the difficulties of working within a regulatory framework not designed for fast-paced operations deployed in high-risk environments. The resulting tension is simply unfair; either we comply with the existing rules, but face the ire of this body when we do not deliver services in a timely manner, or we get the job done by testing the limits of the rules, risking censure from the oversight bodies.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“In addition, we are making good progress in developing capacities in the various support streams. For example, we will soon have a specialized in-house capacity to advise both departments on how to manage and mitigate risk - a badly needed source of expertise. The establishment, several years ago, of a Conduct and Discipline Unit at Headquarters - it is now housed in the Department of Field Support - and of related teams within the missions is starting to pay dividends. We are also developing the capacity to introduce "greening" aspects into all our operations.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“The creation of the Department has also led to greater clarity of purpose, with an improved focus on the delivery of service to the field - becoming field- centric, if you will. The political direction is determined by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations - in partnership with Member States, of course - and it is up to my team to focus "simply" on getting the right staff on board, securing sufficient financing and providing the equipment and the logistics necessary for the operation. The beauty of having a narrow mandate is that it is easier to establish baselines and measure progress. One of our current challenges is how to calibrate that support to the increasingly varied size and nature of various field presences. I believe that there is an opportunity for a more targeted and nuanced approach.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“The Department now sits at the table as an equal partner in crucial discussions at every stage of the mission life cycle: planning, deployment, sustainment, reconfiguration and, eventually, liquidation. When problems are encountered, we are able to engage at the political level with Member States and partner organizations to find solutions. As it happens, I just returned two days ago from precisely such an engagement: a third round of discussions with the Sudanese Government and the African Union to facilitate the free flow of people and materials for our mission in Darfur. I am happy to report that as a result, we have thus far been able to meet the agreed-upon deployment targets.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Structurally, Secretary-General Ban recognized that soon after he had taken office, when he proposed the creation of a new department specifically dedicated to the staffing and equipping of United Nations field-based peace operations. The newest United Nations department - the Department of Field Support - now supports 16 peacekeeping missions and 18 special political missions and oversees more than 22,000 international and local civilian staff. It operates and maintains more than 250 medical facilities, 300 aircraft, 18,000 vehicles and 40,000 computers. There is a growing recognition that field support issues are gaining in prominence and stature.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“I take great pleasure in coming before the Security Council today as Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Field Support in the first of what I hope will be a series of discussions on the future of peacekeeping operations in the United Nations. In that context, I am grateful for the opportunity to inform members about some of the challenges facing us in the area of field support. Undoubtedly, a process of cross-fertilization of ideas regarding support issues, on the one hand, and substantive issues, on the other, is What is needed at this time, and it is absolutely critical that we address that. (spoke in English) My friend and colleague, Alain Le Roy, has clearly articulated that we in the United Nations peacekeeping community are at a new watershed after a decade of unprecedented expansion.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“We look forward to continued cooperation from the Government in this regard, and I will need the sustained support of this Council and the continued collaboration of troop- and police-contributing and partner countries as we work together to achieve this goal.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“Given that the timelines required to organize and implement these strategic movements are quite fixed and irreducible, it is critical for us that TCCs and PCCs undertake the range of pre-deployment preparations as rapidly as possible. Two days ago, we met with TCC and FCC representatives to stress this point. This is no small task and we are placing a significant burden on troop- and police-contributing countries. The equipment and capabilities required to work in Darfur are considerable and the environment is highly demanding. They must therefore be meticulous in their preparations to ensure that the units they deploy are 6 ready to face the enormous challenges associated with deploying into Darfur. Our top priority continues to be the full deployment of UNAMID and the pursuit of peace in Darfur.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“As the Council is aware, we have set ourselves a deadline of achieving 80 per cent deployment by the end of March, and the challenges we face in reaching this goal are well known to all. We will build on our efforts to further strengthen the specific measures we have put in place to move equipment and prepare sites more effectively. We will also, of course, be completely transparent with the Council about our progress. In this regard, I would like to state that the readiness of troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and police-contributing countries (PCCs) to deploy military and formed police units will be a particularly important factor in our collective efforts to finally bring UNAMID to its authorized strength.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“But, given the security situation in Darfur today, they will not be able to do their work until the minimum number of armed formed police units (FPUs) is in place, since the armed units provide direct operational support to United Nations police, including by securing their working environment. This is only one of the many challenges we face, but I am drawing it to your attention, because if we fall short of the 60 per cent target by approximately one per cent, it will because deployment of these United Nations police officers has been temporarily delayed until we have a combination of an improved security situation and more formal police units on the ground. With our year's end deadline only days away, we are already working hard to achieve the best possible deployment results for the rest of 2009.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“I mentioned earlier that ongoing insecurity has made it necessary for the Secretary- General to designate Darfur as a phase four security zone. The practical implication of this designation is that we must work to ensure that our mission is able to function, even if the situation deteriorates, and we must also of course take all measures to ensure the safety of our personnel. One concrete result of this phase four situation is that we are forced to delay the deployment of approximately two hundred unarmed United Nations police officers to Darfur, until we are able to ensure that provisions have been put in place for their overall security. Under normal circumstances, these police officers could deploy and they are ready in their capitals to do so.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“I travelled to Khartoum on 16 November for the second meeting of the Tripartite Committee, during which I was reassured by Government officials that every effort would be made to facilitate the deployment of UNAMID. Progress was a noted on all topics raised in our first Tripartite Committee meeting on 7 October, and we agreed that continued cooperation of this kind will be essential to the deployment of UNAMID. We will meet again in early 2009 in Addis Ababa to follow up further. We are moving equipment more quickly, preparing to receive troops more efficiently and working with the Government on deployment matters more effectively. These are all positive developments, but I must stress that we are making these gains in a volatile security environment.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“As a result, engineering work for the Nyala supercamp is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008 and the El Fasher and El Geneina supercamps are scheduled to be completed by the end of January 2009. That will be a major improvement in the mission's ability to accept and accommodate personnel. In addition, even with its limited resources, the mission has significantly increased reserves of essential supplies, including rations and water, to ensure that we are prepared to operate in a security Phase IV environment. Improvements in the movement of equipment and the enhancement of our engineering work have been complemented by good levels of cooperation with the Government of the Sudan with respect to deployment.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“As detailed in the Secretary-General's report, the Department of Safety and Security and UNAMID put in place special measures to improve the rate at which contingent owned equipment reaches its final 08-66225 destination. Improved road conditions since the end of the rainy season, strengthened land transport capacity, rail transport and additional air capacity have helped in ensuring that the backlog at El Obeid is clear. The mission is also working to enhance its engineering capacity, including through the expedited employment of military engineers, partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services and the recruitment of local contractors.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“As indicated in the report, I am pleased to inform Council members that, with a little less than two weeks to go, we are moving towards our target of achieving 60 per cent deployment of the mission's uniformed personnel by the end of the year. Achievement of this goal comes as a result of our efforts to accelerate the movement of equipment into Darfur, enhance engineering capabilities and improve cooperation with the Government of the Sudan. While we still have a long way to go to achieve our ultimate goal of full deployment of UNAMID, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the troop- and police- contributing countries that have worked so hard with us to reach this initial target, as well as colleagues in UNAMID who have applied themselves, tirelessly, to meeting this challenging goal.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“Ms. Malcorra: I am glad to be here today to provide the Council with a detailed overview of our efforts to work with troop- and police-contributing countries and the Government of the Sudan to accelerate the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). The report before the Council (S/2008/781) provides a full picture the status of our deployment efforts, the challenges which we have been able to overcome since the last time I briefed the Council and obstacles that we must overcome in order to meet our full objectives. As Council members received the report only yesterday, I will take this opportunity to provide a summary of the main highlights and to update our efforts since the report was finalized.”
2008-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6054 (2008) · source
“In many ways, the second meeting will be even more important than the first, since it will give us all an opportunity to evaluate concrete progress against commitments. It will allow us to put our ears to the ground. In closing, I look forward to keeping the Council apprised of the results of those very important discussions.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source
“What I would like to stress here is that we must be prepared to be flexible and creative as we continue to implement our plans. We will, in particular, need our military engineering units to show maximum flexibility and to work throughout the Mission area on a wide variety of tasks. Finally, I would like to conclude my remarks by informing the Council that I will be returning to Khartoum next month for a second tripartite meeting with the Government of the Sudan and the African Union. The first meeting of the Tripartite Committee, which took place on 7 October and which is reflected in the Secretary-General's report, was extremely useful. Together with the African Union and our Sudanese counterparts, we were able to identify critical areas for cooperation and specific requests for Government support.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source
“That is in addition to an air bridge which we are putting in place to lift high-priority equipment directly from El Obeid into Darfur, and to our increasing use of rail and, in some cases, the direct air-lifting of equipment and personnel from troop-contributing capitals all the way to Darfur. We have been doing some useful work with the Friends of UNAMID in that regard, and we thank them for that. The other major pillar of our deployment plan relates to engineering work. New camps must be constructed, old camps must be expanded and critical infrastructure must be put in place. The Secretary- General's report describes the actions being taken to ensure that we can meet the engineering demands of starting up a massive operation in that remote location.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source
“That is to say, those containers are 800 kilometres from El Fasher - 800 kilometres of dirt track and narrow roads which were virtually impassable for large trucks during the rainy season, which ended only last month. Getting this equipment to the Mission is central to the success of our deployment plan. The report before the Council describes the steps we are taking to do so and I am pleased to inform members that we have been making progress. Four new transport companies have recently been brought on board to increase the movement of containers out of El Obeid and into Darfur.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source
“And, of course, we at the United Nations will have to be at the centre of those efforts by coordinating the many moving parts of the complex process, by pressing as hard as we can to move personnel and equipment into the theatre, and by ensuring that the required preparations are in place to receive personnel and equipment when they arrive. I can say with confidence that our plans are in place and being implemented, but the task before us is daunting. For example, there are approximately 6,000 sea containers, full of equipment required by UNAMID and bound for Darfur, which are currently at the United Nations logistics hub in El Obeid, which is in the central Sudan.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source
“As the Council is aware, those new, revised targets reflect a scaling-back of initial, extremely ambitious projections. The new targets are still ambitious but in our view can be achieved. The objective has always been and will continue to be the deployment of the maximum number of capable units to the locations where they are required in the shortest time possible. Under-Secretary-General Le Roy has already described the kind of collaboration that will be needed to reach those goals. Troop and police contributors will have to mobilize personnel and equipment. Donors will have to fill resource gaps. The Government will have to deliver on its commitment to support our deployment efforts.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source
“Ms. Malcorra: I am glad to be here today to provide the Council with additional details regarding the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), following Under-Secretary-General Le Roy's introduction. I believe that the report before the Council (S/2008/659) provides a full picture of the status of our deployment efforts, the major challenges we are facing, the steps we are taking to address those challenges and our projections for the deployment of UNAMID in the coming months. Given the thorough nature of the report, I will to be very brief. We believe that we have now put in place the required systems and defined in detail the steps required to achieve our targets of 60 per cent deployment by the end of the year and 80 per cent by the end of March 2009.”
2008-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6003 (2008) · source