Sustaining Effective UN Peace Operations in the Future: Insights from the Studies Undertaken by the Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network (EPON)

The EPON Meta-study on Sustaining Effective UN Peace Operations (2018–2025) draws on 20 mission studies to identify factors shaping effectiveness. It finds that peace operations face rising geopolitical divisions, financial strain, and complex crises, requiring adaptive, people-centred, and regionally grounded approaches. Success depends on political support, clear mandates, host-state cooperation, adequate resources, and community engagement. Key barriers include Security Council disunity, rigid institutions, and politicised funding. The study calls for modular, flexible missions, stronger regional partnerships, integrated human rights and WPS implementation, and climate-responsive planning to ensure UN operations remain relevant, legitimate, and effective in rapidly changing contexts.