1st LD Writethru: UN, Singapore to co-develop software systems for peacekeeping

The United Nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government of Singapore on Thursday to work collaboratively on software development in support of UN peacekeeping.

Singapore will partner with UN agencies "to co-develop software systems that will use information management to enhance situational awareness, trend analysis and early warning capacities in field missions," said a UN spokesman.

UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, signed the MOU on behalf the UN, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here.

"I mandated last winter to look into the uses of technology that we can indeed maximize the use of current high end technologies to improve our awareness of the situations that we handle," Ladsous said in New York after signing the MOU.

Ladsous noted that the agreement was "terribly important" in light of the framework of all the recommendations set by the High-Level Panel on UN Peacekeeping Operations.

Under the MOU, Singapore will partner with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the UN Department of Field Support to co-develop an information management tool that will add Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities to existing situational awareness tools.

Ladsous said another piece of software called "SAGE" is in the process of development, but has many limitations and does not allow for real time changes and injection of new data by the users.

The new information management tool that is the focus of the MOU can provide the ability to visualize and analyze multiple layers of data on a map interface and is also expected to enhance the situational awareness, trend analysis and early warning capacities in peacekeeping missions, UN officials said.

Ladsous thanked Singapore for helping the UN to create the new tool that will be very important, both on the ground and for those in headquarters, especially in the UN Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC).

He said while "some cannot contribute many boots ... there is such a thing as intellectual contribution and there, you (Singapore) stand at the very top."

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support Anthony Banburry said countries such as Singapore that are "very committed to the issue of peace and security have much to offer," especially at a time when the demand for peacekeeping has driven the need for creative ways to respond to threats and challenges.

Singapore's UN Ambassador Karen Tan said the challenges faced in peacekeeping missions "require thinking outside the box to adjust to new challenges and conditions, as well as to stay ahead of the curve."

"Instantaneous access to information, particularly in crisis situations, is one of the assets that top technology has brought to our lives. We need to bring that to peacekeeping as well," said Tan.

She added that the new information management module can "significantly enhance the way we plan, monitor and conduct peacekeeping operations, which in-turn will translate to safer an effective mission execution."

Singapore officially became the 117th member of the United Nations after its independence on Sept. 21, 1965.

From 2001 to 2002, Singapore held a rotational seat on the UN Security Council and has participated in UN peacekeeping/observer missions in Kuwait, Angola, Kenya, Cambodia and Timor Leste.

Singapore's first peacekeeping mission was to oversee Namibia's transition to independence, was in response to an urgent call for help from then UN General-Secretary Javier Perez de Cuellar on March 29, 1989.

Since 1989, Singapore has taken part in 16 peacekeeping and observer missions with personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces. Enditem