Peace Process Support – The Secretariat (PPS)
Peace Process Support – The Secretariat (PPS) was established in 2017 under the then Swiss Ambassador Mirko Manzoni through a mandate given by the parties to Switzerland who were tasked at the time to provide good offices to the peace process.
Following the appointment of Mirko Manzoni as the United Nations Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General (UN PESG) for Mozambique in July 2019, the PPS will continue to operate under his guidance as the UN PESG and Chair of the Contact Group.
Since its establishment, PPS has provided technical and logistical support to all aspects of the peace process, working to ensure a consistent approach to the way in which support activities are conducted and managed. This initially focused on the work of the two thematic commissions; the Military Affairs Commission and the Decentralization Commission. Following the revision of the constitution paving the way for decentralization reform in May 2018 and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Military Affairs in August 2018, the work of PPS has transitioned towards supporting the implementation of agreed actions.
The current focus of PPS’s work is to ensure that all agreements are effectively and comprehensively implemented; this includes the Agreement on the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities signed on 1 August 2019 and the Maputo Accord for Peace and National Reconciliation signed on 6 August 2019. the structure necessary to support implementation.
Since 2019 efforts have focused on advancing the disarmament and demobilization of Renamo combatants. PPS works closely with key bodies including the Military Affairs Commission (MAC), the Joint Technical Group for DDR (JTGDDR), the Joint Technical Group for Placement (JTGP) and the Joint Technical Group for Monitoring and Verification (JTGMV) on this task.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) currently provides administrative support to the PPS taking over the role from the Swiss Embassy in January 2020 following the appointment of Mirko Manzoni at the UN PESG for Mozambique in July 2019.
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| The hug is the symbol of reconciliation, friendship, and acceptance. It represents the unity amongst the people that together build Mozambique | The bridge is the symbol of openness to dialogue and the connection between people | The baobab is the symbol of longevity and firmness. It represents the tree where communities gather to resolve conflicts |
United Nations Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique (UN PESG)
On 8 July 2019, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, appointed Mirko Manzoni of Switzerland as his Personal Envoy for Mozambique. In this role, Mr. Manzoni provides good offices support in facilitating the continued dialogue between the Government of Mozambique and Renamo, and the implementation of the Maputo Accord. This appointment ensures continuity between the different phases of the peace process.
The UN PESG also Chairs the Contact Group, which comprises the Ambassadors of Switzerland, Botswana, China, European Union, Great Britain, Norway, and the United States. The primary purpose of the Contact Group is to encourage the Parties to maintain dialogue to implement the Agreement in full, while also assisting the Parties in mobilising resources for its successful implementation.
Photo: UN Photo/Mark Garten
United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA)
The office of the UN PESG operates under the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). DPPA offers political support to the UN PESG as he carries out his mandate.
DPPA was established in 2019 following the merging of the former Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), as part of the reform of the UN peace and security infrastructure. The reform positions DPPA as the lead entity supporting the Secretary-General in the UN’s efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts at the global level, and playing a central role in advancing the women, peace and security, and youth, peace and security agendas.
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is a UN resource for services and solutions across peace and security, humanitarian, and development efforts. Its mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
In Mozambique, since January 2020 UNOPS has provided administrative services to the Peace Process Secretariat, as well as financial management services for a pooled funding mechanism to support the implementation of the Maputo Accord.
As of May 2023, donors to the basket fund include Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Finland, Italy, the United States and the European Union.
