In October, United Nations peacekeepers became the latest in the aid sector to face job cuts. An announcement by the U.N. stated that the loss of funding, largely linked to the U.S. foreign aid cuts, will mean eliminating around 25% of the 68,000-strong workforce. With such a niche skill set, the question of what's next looms large for many of these professionals.
“If you find yourself in the mix of that change where peacekeeping missions are reduced … you have to ask yourself, ‘How can I pivot?’ said Daniel Mutuku, a Kenya-based learning and development consultant. “I will tell you, there are so many ways that you can pivot.”
Peacekeepers typically have a military or police background and are deployed to overseas missions in an effort to reduce conflict, protect civilians, and create the conditions for political dialogue and peace. Known informally as the blue helmets — as a nod to their uniform — these professionals are currently deployed across 11 missions, including in India, Lebanon, and South Sudan. “Our peacekeepers, your peacekeepers, protect people — they make the difference between life and death for hundreds of thousands of civilians,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the U.N. peacekeeping chief, in a statement.