Special Adviser to the Head of the African Union Peace Support Operations Division

In consultation with the Head PSOD and MFA, NUPI has appointed Cedric de Coning as Special Adviser to the AU. The Adviser has been working closely in support of the Head PSOD over the course of the reporting period. The support consist of conversations, both via telephone, e-mail, and in person, during the course of which the Head PSOD seeks advice on various matters related to AU Peace Operations, the African Standby Force and specifically the civilian dimension of peace operations. In some cases the Advisor is asked to draft or comment on specific documents, or to follow-up with other staff in PSOD on particular matters. For instance, in February 2015 de Coning contributed to the AUC Commission's report to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the UN High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, and in April 2015 he contributed to the AU Common Position on the UN Panel on Peace Operations adopted by the PSC on 30 April 2015.