Mandate and role of Civil Affairs

The Civil Affairs Section is a civilian component in UNAMID that works at the social, administrative and sub-national political levels to facilitate the implementation of the UNAMID mandate and to support the population and government in creating and strengthening conditions and structures conducive to sustainable peace in Darfur. 

The three core roles of Civil Affairs in support of UNAMID’s mandate include: 

• Cross-mission representation, monitoring and facilitation of the peace process at the local level - Civil Affairs is the channel for communicating the priorities and perceptions of different sectors of the population to the mission, concerning both UNAMID and the Darfur peace process. 

• Confidence-building, conflict management and support to reconciliation and the resolution of conflicts– For a conducive and sustainable peace, Civil Affairs convenes and facilitates dialogue between interest groups and stakeholders; undertakes direct outreach to the population (working with other mission actors to design and deliver appropriate and consistent message); supports efforts of government, Native administration and civil society groups seeking peace and reconciliation; identify, implement and monitor Quick Impact Projects (QIPs); and promote or protect of the interests of excluded, threatened, marginalized or minority groups. 

• Support to the restoration, strengthening and extension of state authority and governance institutions - Civil Affairs contributes the establishment and strengthening of  legitimate and representative governance, as well as providing operational support to the activities of National, state and governance institutions through capacity building activities and assistance in the structuring of state and transitional governance institutions as well as supporting dialogue between different sectors of the population (including civil society actors) and the government. 

In each of the roles identified, the work of Civil Affairs intersects with, supports and draws upon the work of other UNAMID components and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), as well as providing information to facilitate community level responses.

CAS Clients, Stakeholders and Partners

In the execution of its mandate and performance of its roles in Darfur, Civil Affairs works in cooperation with a wide range of international and national stakeholders and partners which include the following:

   •    Government of Sudan
   •    Civil Society Organisations (Youth, Women, Trade Unions, Nomads, Academia...)
   •    Civil Administration (State/Locality/Administrative levels)
   •    Native Administration 
   •    Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) 
   •    Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
   •    Movements (Signatories and Non-Signatories) to a limited extent.
   •    International and Local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
   •    United Nations Country Team in Darfur (UNCT)

Main activities

   •    Support the peace process
   •    Support to State and governance institutions
   •    Skill transfer and knowledge exchange through workshops and training programs
   •    Support to local level conflict resolution and reconciliation (community and locality levels) 
   •    Lead on UNAMID strategic intervention on IDPs (Monitoring, coordination, Liaison and Reporting) 
   •    Managing the implementation of UNAMID Quick Impact Project
   •    Mobilization of civil society in support of the Darfur peace process

Major achievements

   •    Support the dissemination of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur across Darfur’s five states.
   •    Facilitation of local level conflict resolution/reconciliation dialogue.
   •    Organization of capacity building workshops, seminars and trainings.
   •    Strategic guidance on mission’s intervention on protection of civilians.
   •    Processing, approval and implementation of 450 QIPs (2008 – 2012).
   •    Facilitating the participation of civil society representatives in Doha Peace Process.

Fact file

Download PDF file here: cas_fact_file_july_2012.pdf

Civil Affairs Publication