Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation
{{Short description|Government unit in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
The Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation (OCSM), formerly the Stabilisation Unit, is a cross-government unit of the UK government, governed through the National Security Council. It is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It works cross-government to reduce the creation and intensity of conflicts abroad.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-for-the-office-for-conflict-stabilisation-and-mediations-civilian-stabilisation-group-csg#:~:text=The%20Office%20for%20Conflict%2C%20Stabilisation%20and%20Mediation%20(%20OCSM%20)%20is,and%20intensity%20of%20conflicts%20abroad. |title=Working for the Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation's Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG) |author= |date= |website= |publisher=gov.uk |access-date=5 July 2023 |quote=The Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation (OCSM) is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The OCSM works in partnership with teams across the FCDO and wider UK government to minimise the frequency and intensity of conflicts abroad.}}
The Stabilisation Unit's history
The Stabilisation Unit aims to support fragile states and countries emerging from conflict,{{cite web|url=http://www.lg-alliance.org/the-news/101-civilian-experts-needed-for-the-uk-governments-stabilisation-unit.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|title=Civilian Experts needed for the UK Government's Stabilisation Unit
|publisher=Local Government Alliance for International Development
|date=20 July 2009
}} where close cooperation between international agencies, the military, and civilian personnel is essential.{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/index.php/about-us
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|title=About Us
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
|date=2010-10-19
}}
The Stabilisation Unit, formed in 2007 from the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit,{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/2010/10/04/national-security-concerns-continue-to-dictate-britain%E2%80%99s-government-aid-and-development-agendas/|accessdate=14 August 2011|date=4 October 2010|title=National security concerns continue to dictate Britain's government aid and development agendas|publisher=London School of Economics}} serves a similar function to and works closely with institutions such as the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force (Canada)Established in 2005 within Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (http://www.international.gc.ca/start-gtsr/index.aspx) and the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (United States).
Since 2015 the unit has been funded through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and governed through the National Security Council.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/stabilisation-unit/about |title=Stabilisation Unit – About us |publisher=gov.uk |accessdate=5 December 2016}} Prior to 2015 it was it is jointly controlled by the FCO, the DFID, and the MOD.{{cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_186053
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|title=Stabilisation Unit
|publisher=Directgov
|date=2010-10-18
}} As of February 2022, the Stabilisation Unit was merged with former Department for International Development and Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff to form the OCSM.{{cite web |url=https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-12-12/108307 |title=Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation |author= |date= 12 December 2022 |website=questions-statements.parliament.uk/ |publisher=UK Hansard |access-date=5 July 2023 |quote=OCSM was formed from the cross-Government Stabilisation Unit (SU) and departments from FCO and DFID and was formally launched in February 2022}}
=Former SU Activities=
The Stabilisation Unit's objectives were:{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/17B4A2A8-B65C-48B0-9A6A-8F1600F384F7/0/JDP340StabilisationUnitWhatisStabilisation.pdf
|title=Stabilisation and the Stabilisation Unit
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|publisher=Ministry of Defence
|title=Stabilisation and Stability Operations: A Literature Review
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|date=30 June 2009
}}
- To prevent or contain violent conflict;
- To protect people, key assets and institutions
- To promote political processes which lead to greater stability.
- Prepare for longer-term development and address the causes of conflict.
==SU Locations==
The Stabilisation Unit provided advice, or assistance, for various places in crisis, including:
- Afghanistan: The SU has helped with a variety of problems in Helmand province.{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/index.php/where-we-work/afghanistan
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|title=Afghanistan
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
}}{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4251531.ece
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080907220618/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4251531.ece
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=7 September 2008
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|title=Afghanistan: 'It was a battlefield last time I was here. The progress is remarkable'
|date=2 July 2008
|location=London
|work=The Times
|first=Magnus
|last=Linklater
}}
- Democratic Republic of Congo: A stabilisation advisor has been with MONUC since 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/about-us/where-we-work/other-countries.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
|title=Other Countries
}}
- Haiti: Assisting prisons in Haiti after the earthquake{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/about-us/where-we-work/haiti.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
|title=Haiti
}}
- Iraq: The SU assisted the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Basra,{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/about-us/where-we-work/iraq.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
|title=Iraq
}} and helped rebuild police capabilities.{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/about-us/where-we-work/iraq/142-developing-forensic-capability-in-iraq.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
|title=Developing Forensic Capability in Iraq
}}
- Sudan: Helping with civil society engagement. Four consultants are in Darfur.{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/about-us/where-we-work/sudan.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|title=Sudan
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
}}
- Kosovo, Moldova, Somalia, Yemen, and Pakistan: The SU helped build strategies for assisting these countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/about-us/where-we-work/other-countries/252-security-sector-reform-in-moldova.html
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|publisher=Stabilisation Unit
|title=Security Sector Reform in Moldova
}}
=SU People=
The SU recruits civil servants into the Civil Service Stabilisation Cadre (CSSC).{{cite web|url=http://idkprod.conseq.org.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=14812559
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|date=November 2009
|title=Stabilisation Unit: a unique opportunity for local government employees
}}{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/jobs/Secondment-Opportunities/CSSC.aspx
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|date=12 July 2011
|title=Civil Service Stabilisation Cadre
}}
The SU also recruits civilians; the UK Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG) was launched in February 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/News-Stories/2010/Launch-of-UK-civilian-stabilisation-unit-/
|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407195515/http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/News-Stories/2010/Launch-of-UK-civilian-stabilisation-unit-/
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=7 April 2010
|accessdate=14 August 2011
|date=9 February 2010
|publisher=National Archives
|title=Launch of UK Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG)
}} The SU maintains a flexible and diverse pool of civilian experts who can be deployed to assist other countries to help build peace & security.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-for-the-office-for-conflict-stabilisation-and-mediations-civilian-stabilisation-group-csg#:~:text=The%20Office%20for%20Conflict%2C%20Stabilisation%20and%20Mediation%20(%20OCSM%20)%20is,and%20intensity%20of%20conflicts%20abroad. Working for the Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation's Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG)]
- [http://www.stabilisationunit.gov.uk/ Stabilisation Unit – United Kingdom]
Category:Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
Category:Department for International Development
Category:International development agencies