About us
The Stabilisation Unit was replaced by the Office for Conflict, Stabilisation and Mediation, which is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
We support the integrated co-ordination of UK government activities in fragile and conflict-affected states by being a centre of expertise on conflict, stabilisation, security and justice.
We recruit, train and deploy qualified and experienced Deployable Civilian Experts to support UK government activities in fragile and conflict-affected states, and to multilateral missions on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office. We are responsible for the safety and security of all staff deployed through us.
We also capture and analyse evidence from practical experience to identify and share best practice, inform the UK government’s strategy and policy development, improve our operational delivery and increase the impact of our work.
Who we are
We are a cross-government, civil-military-police unit based in London, and include Government Partnerships International (GPI). We are funded through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and are governed through the National Security Council. We consist of core civil servant staff members from 12 government departments, as well as serving military and police officers.
Our responsibilities
We are responsible for:
- providing the link between civil, military and police efforts to build stability overseas
- facilitating cross-government working and lesson-learning in planning for, and responding to, conflict
- capturing and sharing lessons and examples of best practice on stabilisation work
- responding to requests from UK government departments, embassies and country offices for support to fragile and conflict-affected states
Our priorities
From 2016 to 2020, our priorities are to:
- increase our capacity to support the UK government in understanding and developing effective, integrated responses to transnational stability and security challenges, in fragile and conflict-affected states
- provide expert advice on understanding and responding to gender, peace and security issues
- improve monitoring and evaluation advice and training
- support effective response to crises
- provide a hub for international policing support to fragile and conflict-affected states, and an effective platform for GPI
- enhance our training offer
Government Partnerships International
Government Partnerships International is a cross-cutting unit, located in the SU, providing peer-to-peer support to partner governments overseas, to help them deliver better public services to citizens. This work supports UK government objectives in fragile and developing countries by increasing the impact of aid interventions and helping to build effective institutions.
GPI is made up of a core team of civil servants from a range of departments as well as short and long term expert support from across government, academia and the public sector.
GPI is funded through the SU’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund budget and uses other funds from partners across government.
GPI was launched on 11 December 2018 and was formerly called the National School of Government International.
What GPI does
GPI provides advice and support at the centre of government, as we as on cross-cutting civil service functions, to overseas governments.
GPI approach is based on honesty, collaboration and local ownership, to build trust with partners in the UK and overseas. The three main areas of focus are:
- delivering peer-to-peer partnership support to partner governments to help them build capable and effective institutions at the centre of government
• providing high-quality advice and analysis to HMG on effective approaches to institutional reform, delivered through policies and programmes
• capturing, promoting and sharing our learning with UK partnership providers to improve the quality of peer-to-peer support
For more information about GPI please contact us. We also have our own category within SU’s Civilian Stabilisation Group. Further information about the CSG and instructions on how to apply.