UN Secretariat - DPPA

United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations

8
Activities on AI
14
Countries

About UN Secretariat - DPPA

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) plays a central role in United Nations efforts to prevent and resolve conflict around the world. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) is dedicated to assisting the Member States and the Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain international peace and security.

Activities by UN Secretariat - DPPA

UN Secretariat - DPOUN Secretariat - DPPA
E-Analytics and Innovation Training
Arab States Qatar

In line with the UN Secretary-General’s Strategy on New Technologies and Data Strategy, and the recent UN 2.0 policy brief, DPPA’s annual E-Analytics and Innovation Course focuses on leveraging exploring innovative approaches in peace and security contexts. It provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging new technologies and equips participants with practical skills and tools to integrate evidence-driven analysis into UN initiatives for conflict prevention, peacemaking, and peacebuilding.

Designing the course to align with DPPA’s mandate and the UN 2.0 vision was instrumental in making project outputs more relevant, actionable, and grounded in institutional priorities. This strategic alignment encouraged participants to approach their prototypes with a focus on cost-efficiency and practicality—an especially important consideration given the current financial constraints.

Activity Type Trainings/Workshops
UN Secretariat - DPOUN Secretariat - DPPA
Exploring the Potential and Risks of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the UN System
Arab States, Latin America and the Caribbean BoliviaPanamaSyriaYemen

As Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies progress, they offer numerous advantages, such as improved knowledge management, enhanced translation capabilities, and efficient content generation. Especially with the release of AI applications such as ChatGPT, Perplexity.ai, and Microsoft Copilot, Generative AI continues to permeate the tools and applications used in the UN’s daily work. To foster greater awareness and capabilities among UN staff regarding both the potential benefits and risks of this technology, DPPA’s Innovation Cell organizes AI Innovation Workshops, including prompt engineering labs and other creative ideation sessions.

Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceAwareness/Advocacy
UN Secretariat - DPOUN Secretariat - DPPA
AI -powered large-scale synchronous dialogues
Arab States, Latin America and the Caribbean Guatemala

Complementing other engagements and analytical methods to meaningfully enhance inclusivity and engage voices in peace processes, the Innovation Cell employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) for mediators and actors to hold real-time, synchronous, moderated consultations in languages of choice, including local dialects, with up to 1,000 people in a single session simultaneously, circumventing physical and linguistic barriers.

Digital dialogues have proven to be a valuable complement to traditional methods, expanding reach and enabling more flexible, real-time participation. Their success hinges on thoughtful process design—particularly in how questions are framed to elicit meaningful, contextually relevant responses. A key insight from this experience is the critical role of national staff in reviewing translations into local dialects. Their involvement ensures that linguistic nuances, cultural sensitivities, and contextual accuracy are preserved, thereby enhancing both the credibility and the inclusivity of the engagement process.

Activity Type AI Tools/SolutionsAwareness/AdvocacyNetworks/Mentorship/Exchange
UN Secretariat - DPPA
Diplomatic Pulse
Global Not Applicable

Diplomatic Pulse is a specialized search engine developed by DPPA in partnership with the Qatar Computing Research Institute that aggregates press releases issued by all UN Member States. Press releases are a primary medium for diplomatic signaling, and this tool allows users to quickly see who issued a statement, on what topic, and when.

Results can be filtered using a range of parameters, enabling fast identification of trending themes and Member State positions. Users can also compile selected statements into a summary report. By increasing the visibility of Member State communications, Diplomatic Pulse helps to amplify and equalize diplomatic voices, making international discourse more transparent and accessible to analysts, mediators, and policymakers.

Activity Type AI Tools/Solutions