Evaluation of the Contract Management Process in the United Nations for Acquiring Peacekeeping Operations/Services

Abstract

Over the years, the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations have increased significantly. When a crisis develops in any part of the world, the UN is expected to respond. It examines the overall situation in order to assess the political and military goals, required composition of force, equipment, training, financial implications, circumstances of deployment and effectiveness of the peacekeeping operation required. The UN does not have any permanent force structure; it is dependent on its member States for contribution of forces, though the equipment may or may not be provided by the troops contributing countries. The UN has a standard procedure for acquiring peacekeeping operations/services. The process is a contract between the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) and the troops contributing countries. Though there are similarities between UN-followed contract management process and the generally accepted contract management process identified in the contract management body of knowledge, there are many differences as well. The purpose of this study is to both evaluate the existing UN contract management process being followed to acquire peacekeeping operation/services from various troops contributing countries against the generally accepted contract management process identified in the contract management body of knowledge as well as to evaluate the contract management process maturity so as to assess the effectiveness of the UN contract management process for obtaining peacekeeping operations/services from troops contributing countries.