As financial resources for environmental management are limited, both the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and the Department of Support (DOS) try to ensure that their interventions are appropriate, effective and cost-efficient. This calls for good management and up-to-date knowledge of the impact that its work is having on the ground.
DPO and DOS and their partners have experience of environmental management in conflict situations. A recent key lesson learned is the need for clearer and more systematic approaches to environmental assessments, monitoring and evaluation, as part of overall operations management.
The DPO - DOS Environmental Policy for UN Field Missions requires Environmental Baseline Studies, emergency rehearsals and regular reporting on environmental matters to both mission and Headquarter management.
Best practices and case studies from the field are shared with all missions through a dedicated Community of Practice and dedicated training. We also use resources from our partners like UNEP or the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI).