Singapore, UN To Develop Situation Awareness Analysis Tool for Peacekeeping Ops

Singapore has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to jointly develop an information management tool to enhance conduct of UN peacekeeping operations.

The Permanent Representative of Singapore to the UN Ms Karen Tan signed the MoU on behalf of the Singaporean Government and Department of Field Support. Under the MoU, the tool is expected to be fully deployed from 2017, the Singaporean Government said in an official release last Friday.

The information management tool is a Geographic Information System-based Situation Awareness Analysis Application, will consolidate all peacekeeping operation-related information into an interactive map interface. At one glance, users will be able to appreciate the current conditions and relevant operational information concerning a peacekeeping operation. They will be able to search for events-of-interest, access event-related details, and conduct event trend analysis. This will significantly enhance the way the UN plans, monitors and conducts these operations, the press release stated.

The joint collaboration taps on Singapore's expertise in developing similar systems for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre. Speaking after the MOU signing, Ambassador Tan said, "As a small developing state, Singapore is extremely pleased to be able to contribute in a meaningful and practical way that has the potential to impact and save the lives of many.

Singapore supports efforts by the UN to maintain peace and prevent conflicts in volatile situations which can result in greater human suffering. The information management tool is an example of how Singapore tries to contribute to the international community, notwithstanding our manpower and resource constraints. We will continue to identify such ways of supporting the work of the UN.