Memorandum of understanding

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is an agreement between two parties. In the context of peacekeeping operations, the term generally refers to the agreement between a troop- or police-contributing country and the United Nations with regard to the personnel, major equipment and self-sustainment capability to be deployed as part of a single military or police contingent to a specific peacekeeping mission.

Model memorandum of understanding
MOUs are based on the model MOU agreed by the General Assembly; there are separate MOUs for military contingents and police contingents because of the different legal status of troops and members of formed police units. The text of the model MOU is contained in the COE Manual.

Key elements of the MOU
The MOU sets forth the responsibilities of the United Nations and the contributing country. In addition to addressing contributions of personnel and equipment and the associated reimbursement and support, the MOU also spells out responsibilities related to conduct, discipline, investigations and accountability. These latter elements are relevant in cases of misconduct, such as allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Specific issues relevant to deployment, such as reimbursement rates and standards, as well as copies of relevant policy documents are appended to the MOU in annexes. The annexes currently appended to MOUs (since 1 July 2017) are as follows:

Historical overview
The MOU began as the "Contribution Agreement" setting out the respective responsibilities of the United Nations and a troop-contributing countries. In the 2000s, the MOU underwent significant development following revelations of significant number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Fourth Committee (through the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations), the Fifth Committee (through the COE Working Group) and the Sixth Committee have all played roles in the development of the MOU as it currently exists today.

All amendments to the model MOU since 2007 have been done as part of the triennial review of COE standards, policies and rates of reimbursement by the COE Working Group and Fifth Committee, with the resulting revised text of the model MOU reflected in Chapter 9 of the COE Manual.