The Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and the Department of Defense’s Office of the Secretary of Defense co-hosted the Eighth Annual Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) Worldwide Consultations at the State Department on July 9-11, 2014.

Participants from the Department of State, Department of Defense, other key U.S. government organizations, and the United Nations focused their discussions on the evolving nature of peacekeeping; the protection of civilians in conflict environments; further integration of programs centered on women, peace, and security and child protection into GPOI program activities; and improving the effectiveness of peacekeeping units. Participants also reviewed ongoing GPOI activities, shared implementers’ best practices, and discussed program priorities for the years ahead.

As Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Puneet Talwar noted in his opening remarks to the conference, the demand for skilled, capable, and effective peacekeepers for United Nations and regional organizations’ peace operations remains high. Due to ever-emerging conflicts around the world, that demand continues to grow. GPOI has played a major part in investing in these peacekeepers around the world. The GPOI program enhances international capacity to effectively conduct UN and regional peace operations by building partner country capabilities to train and sustain peacekeeping proficiencies; increasing the number of capable military troops and formed police units available for deployment; and facilitating the preparation, logistical support, and deployment of peacekeeping personnel to peace operations.

Since 2005, GPOI has facilitated the deployment of more than 194,000 personnel from 38 countries to 29 peace operations around the world. GPOI-funded training and equipping efforts allow improved readiness and faster, more effective global responses to threats to peace and security. These efforts have proven especially effective in ensuring that civilian populations are safeguarded. GPOI’s positive impact can be seen in virtually every UN or regional organizations’ peace operation around the world today.

For more information, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at PM-CPA@state.gov.