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
Geoguard
Africa, Arab States CameroonA dashboard that transforms raw open-source satellite data into user-friendly insights to enhance data-driven understanding of climate, peace and security. The platform covers 29 countries across the Middle East, West, and Central Africa.
Activity Type AI Tools/SolutionsResearch/Reports/AssessmentsAI -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.
Exploring the Potential and Risks of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the UN System
Arab States, Latin America and the Caribbean BoliviaPanamaSyriaYemenAs 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/AdvocacyE-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.