Peacekeeping Reserve Fund

The Peacekeeping Reserve Fund was established on 1 January 1993 following the adoption of resolution 47/217 of 23 December 1992 "as a cash flow mechanism to ensure the rapid response of the Organization to the needs of peacekeeping operations". The level of the Fund was set at $150 million. Since June 2022, the Fund has also been available as a liquidity mechanism for active peacekeeping missions.

Special political missions do not have access to the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund.

Relevant regulations

The use of the Fund is governed by Financial Regulations 4.5-4.9.

Regulation 4.6. If a decision of the Security Council relating to the start-up or expansion phase of peacekeeping operations results in the need to meet expenses and capital requirements, the Secretary-General is authorized, with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee and subject to regulation 4.8, to enter into commitments not to exceed the balance of the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund, and not to exceed $100 million per decision of the Security Council. The cumulative total of outstanding commitment authority in respect of the start-up or expansion phase of peacekeeping operations is not to exceed the total level of the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund at any one time; however, the appropriation by the General Assembly of any outstanding commitments shall automatically restore this commitment authority to the extent of the amount appropriated.

Regulation 4.7. Advances made from the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund shall be reimbursed as soon as receipts from contributions are available for those purposes.

Regulation 4.8. If a decision of the Security Council results in the need for the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the start-up or expansion phase of peacekeeping operations in an amount exceeding $100 million per decision of the Security Council or exceeding the total level of the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund, the matter shall be brought to the General Assembly as soon as possible for a decision on commitment authority and assessment.

Regulation 4.9. The Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee shall report to the General Assembly on any exercise of a commitment authority given under regulation 4.6, together with the circumstances relating thereto, in the context of the next report submitted to the Assembly on the financing of the relevant peacekeeping operation.

Relevant resolutions

• General Assembly resolution 47/217 of 23 December 1992

  Established the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund at the level of $150 million.

• General Assembly resolution 49/233 of 23 December 1994

  Decided "to limit the utilization of the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund to the start-up phase of new peacekeeping operations, to the expansion of existing ones or to unforeseen and extraordinary expenditures related to peacekeeping."

  Authorized the Secretary-General to enter into commitments not to exceed $50 million per decision of the Security Council, with the concurrence of the ACABQ.

• General Assembly resolution 64/269 of 24 June 2010

  Increased the maximum amount of commitment authority from $50 million to $100 million, but not to exceed the available balance of the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund.

• General Assembly resolution 76/272 of 22 June 2022

  Approved the use of the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund as a liquidity mechanism for active peacekeeping missions up to the level of $110 million, while keeping $40 million to support the mission establishment or expansion.

See also

• Commitment authority
• Peacekeeping financing
• Strategic deployment stocks
• Financial situation of the United Nations