Uniformed Capability Requirements Paper September 2026

The United Nations Uniformed Capability Requirements Paper (UCRP) projects to Member States what current and future military, police, training, and related capabilities UN peacekeeping needs. Issued quarterly, it guides troop- and police-contributing countries which units, personnel, equipment, training, or capacity-building support to prepare and pledge.

Open Document

Current and Emerging Uniformed Capability Requirements for United Nations Peacekeeping

September 2026

The Secretary-General has just released his Report on the review on the future of all forms of peace operations. The report underscores that the future effectiveness of United Nations peace operations will depend on their ability to become more agile, adaptable and equipped for increasingly complex conflict environments characterized by evolving technologies, transnational threats and fragmented political landscapes. The report highlights that the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) is a critical enabler of this transformation, ensuring that fully vetted military and police capabilities are available for rapid deployment when mandated by the Security Council. By maintaining high-readiness capabilities and supporting agile responses tailored to specific operational requirements, the PCRS strengthens the Organization’s capacity to respond quickly and effectively to emerging crises while ensuring that peace operations remain fit for purpose in a new geopolitical era.

Through collaborative analysis of emerging conflict scenarios, strengthened readiness arrangements, capability development, training partnerships and technological innovation, Member States and the Secretariat can ensure that peace operations are equipped with the specialized personnel, equipment and enabling capacities needed to operate effectively across a wide range of future environments and mandates.The following pages provide the current and emerging uniformed capability needs for UN Peacekeeping, including with regards to training and capacity-building, mission specific unit gaps, general uniformed capabilities that are in demand, as well as some important information on the urgent need for more pledges of Medium Utility Helicopters. The need for Member States to conclude open SEA allegations and the introduction of new paternity reporting and indicator are also highlighted. Annex A (page 11) is an updated list of current uniformed pledges made in the PCRS and Annex B (page 12) displays the PCRS pledges at Levels 2 and above for each capability category against the estimated number of units required for a new medium-size mission. These lists support identification of military and police capabilities that are low in supply and should be prioritized in Member State planning for future pledges to the PCRS. If questions remain, please reach out to the PCRS managers at pcrs.manager@un.org.

We are also pleased to announce that a revised and modernized version of the PCRS website, pcrs.un.org, is available and request that users visit and confirm their pledges for the current cycle that started on 1 July 2026 and will go until 30 June 2027. T/PCCs that have not yet confirmed their pledges on the PCRS website, regardless of their level, are reminded to do so as soon as possible. The instructions on how to confirm pledges are available in the PCRS Users Guide.

I. TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

The United Nations seeks the active collaboration of Member States to strengthen capacity-building and pre-deployment training. The Integrated Training Service (ITS) of the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) is responsible for directing and coordinating peacekeeping training for all categories of personnel—civilian, military and police—in accordance with General Assembly resolution A/RES/49/37 (1995). ITS translates peacekeeping doctrine, policy and guidance into operational training standards and materials for UN peace operations and supports Member States in developing sustainable national pre-deployment training capacities.

Member States are invited to contribute to the following areas:

Identifying priority learning needs across civilian, military, and police components

ITS is planning to conduct a global Training Needs Assessment (TNA) to identify performance and skills gaps across civilian, military and police peacekeeping personnel and to inform future training priorities. The assessment will support the identification of priority learning needs, emerging capability requirements and opportunities to strengthen the effectiveness of peacekeeping training.

The global TNA will build on the findings and recommendations of the Review on the future of UN Peace Operations report and will inform the development of training strategies, standards and delivery modalities over the next five years. Member States are encouraged to contribute funding to support the successful implementation of this initiative.

Enhancing peacekeeping training support through digital solutions and innovation

ITS is seeking to strengthen support to Member States through the expanded use of digital solutions and technological innovation in peacekeeping training. Priority initiatives include the development of e-learning courses, online explanatory products and other digital learning resources tailored to the needs of uniformed peacekeeping personnel.

Member States are encouraged to provide funding, technical expertise or in-kind contributions, including instructional design, digital learning and related specialist support. Contributions may also support the enhancement of organizational capacity for data-driven management, monitoring and reporting of peacekeeping training activities.

Hosting and funding training activities

Member States are encouraged to fund and host training and capacity-building activities. Contributions may include international travel, venues, accommodation, meals for international participants, inland transportation and conference services. For hosting specific activities, Member States are encouraged to reach out to ITS at peacekeeping-training@un.org.

Supporting curriculum development and nominating subject matter experts

ITS seeks qualified subject matter experts (SMEs) to support the development, review and updating of priority peacekeeping training materials. Current priorities include training on integration and joint tactical planning for military and police personnel; counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS); Formed Police Unit (FPU) pre-deployment training (including firearms, police tactics and techniques, public order management, counter-improvised explosive devices (C-IED) and ammunition management), as well as environmental management for T/PCC focal points.

ITS also seeks expertise to review and update the Reinforcement Training Package (RTP) for United Nations Military Peacekeeping-Intelligence Officers. Additional UN Police priorities include Job-Specific Training (JST) on Police Investigations and Specialized Training Materials (STM) for Specialized Police Teams.

Nominating and funding national trainers for UN-led Training of Trainers

Member States are encouraged to nominate qualified national trainers and fund their participation in regional and global Training of Trainers (TOT) programmes. Participants are expected to deliver training nationally, strengthening sustainable pre-deployment training capacity and expanding the reach of UN standards.

Priorities include TOTs on the Strategic Communications RTP (STRATCOMs RTP), the Addressing Misinformation, Disinformation and Hate Speech RTP (A-MDH RTP), and STMs for UN Infantry Battalions, UN Staff Officers and UN Military Observers. UN Police priorities include the UN FPU Command Staff Course and a pilot of the UN FPU Pre-deployment Training.

Supporting the UN Senior National Planners Programme

Member States are encouraged to nominate qualified decision-makers and planning officers responsible for the deployment of national contingents. The programme familiarizes participants with UN administrative and technical procedures and the planning, deployment, sustainment and withdrawal of national contingents in UN peace operations. Support may also include hosting, funding and the provision of relevant expertise.

Translating training materials

Member States are invited to support the translation of newly developed and revised training materials into the six official languages of the United Nations to broaden accessibility for T/PCCs.

Addressing Capability Gaps

The Light Coordination Mechanism (LCM), managed by Integrated Training Service (ITS), engages troop-and police-contributing countries (T/PCCs) and training and capacity-building providers to communicate training gaps, match opportunities to identified needs, and facilitate capacity-building partnerships to improve the performance, safety and security of uniformed UN peacekeepers. Member States and relevant stakeholders are encouraged to use the LCM Online System (LCMOS), including the Global Peacekeeping Training Schedule and the new MarketPlace feature launched in March 2025. Through this platform, they can post and/or search for training and capacity-building opportunities and strengthen collective information-sharing and direct collaboration to support partnerships in the field of peacekeeping. To discuss offers and training matters with ITS, please contact: peacekeeping-training@un.org. To register for the LCM Online System or to discuss your offers or requests for training and capacity-building assistance, please contact the LCM at dpo-lcm@un.org.

The Triangular Partnership Programme (TPP) enhances uniformed peacekeepers’ capacities for UN Peacekeeping Operations, as well as African Union Peace Support Operations, through operational support training across five distinct projects: 1) Engineering 2) Medical 3) C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)) and Camp Security Technologies, 4) Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) and 5) Telemedicine.

TPP’s training efforts continued to support engineering capabilities. In July, TPP concluded a Heavy Equipment Engineering (HEE) Operators’ Intermediate Course with integrated Explosive Hazard Awareness Training (EHAT) in Kenya. Further, in August, TPP conducted an HEE Operators’ Training of Trainers (TOT) course for African Union and UN Troop and Police-Contributing Countries, seeking to advance long-term national capacities through the creation of national trainers. TPP continued the roll-out of its e-Learning offering with the “Construction Management in UN Peace Operations” available in English, and “Environmental Management – Best Practices for Environmental Stewardship in UN Peace Operations” available in English, French, and newly launched in Spanish. All TPP e-Learning courses are available through the UN Peacekeeping Resource Hub.

Following the June TPP Stakeholders’ Workshop hosted by the Government of Viet Nam and co-chaired by the Governments of Australia and Japan, TPP is exploring ways to implement its Stakeholders’ recommendations for as part of its 2027 training calendar, including in areas such as HEE simulators, C-UAS and the development of e-Learning courses to complement TPP’s medical course. TPP is also seeking to continue its partnership with regional organizations such as the ASEAN and African Union, so that Member States and T/PCCs alike can leverage the expertise of TPP as the Department of Operational Support’s global capacity building and innovation platform.

The TPP welcomes the continued active participation of Member States in training in the above-mentioned key peacekeeping capability areas. Member States are encouraged to actively participate in TPP trainings by nominating trainees, notably women participants, deploying trainers, hosting facilities, and providing equipment, funding and other in-kind support. Member States interested in training and partnership opportunities can contact dos-tpp@un.org. For more information, please consult the TPP Informational Video and the https://operationalsupport.un.org/en/tpp-overview.

II. MISSION-SPECIFIC UNIT GAPS

All units required by field missions have been deployed from the PCRS and presently there are no mission-specific gaps despite ongoing force generation efforts in several missions. Two units are deploying from the PCRS to MONUSCO, and several others are part of the selection process to support the Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism. UNISFA also has earmarked three formed police units (FPU) for future deployment, and the generation is expected to take place as soon as the Mission has the absorption capacity and budgetary provisions. The UN authorized Gang Suppression Force (GSF) for Haiti has also impacted the available PCRS pledges, as some Member States used pledges that had been at Level 2 and RDL to support this effort.

Several of the units that were deployed or selected for deployment to both MONUSCO and UNISFA came from the Rapid Deployment Level of the PCRS. Since the RDL is critical in allowing the Secretariat to promptly respond to any new immediate requirements from existing missions and to support plans for the quick start-up of a new mission, these gaps will need to be fulfilled in an off-cycle process. As such, Member States will soon be consulted to elevate suitable pledges to RDL, while the normal RDL pledging process will start on 1 Oct and T/PCCs will be requested to pledge new capabilities for the 2027/2028 cycle. The same will apply to police units following the deployment of RDL FPUs.

III. GENERAL CAPABILITIES

The operating environment for United Nations peace operations continues to evolve rapidly. Conflicts are increasingly fragmented, internationalized and influenced by transnational threats, non-State armed groups and the widespread availability of advanced technologies, including unmanned and AI-enabled systems. At the same time, financial constraints continue to affect mission footprints and operational flexibility. In this context, United Nations peacekeeping requires capabilities that enhance situational awareness, mobility, force protection, information analysis, and rapid response, while enabling missions to operate effectively with greater agility and efficiency. Military and police capabilities pledged by Member States must therefore be adaptable, technologically enabled and capable of addressing both current operational gaps and emerging requirements.

Recent activities of the Strategic Force Generation and Capability Planning Cell (SFGCPC) continue to support targeted engagement with Member States, including through analysis of priority gaps and follow-up on pledges that can improve readiness and responsiveness. The Strategic Force Generation Cell will also conduct a PCRS and SUR-development workshop to further help refine requirements for priority units, ensuring that statements of unit requirements remain realistic, mission-focused and aligned with emerging operational needs.

The following section outlines the military and police capabilities that are considered essential for current peacekeeping operations and likely to remain in demand for future peace operations. These capabilities form the foundation of mandate implementation and the safety and security of peacekeepers. Member States are particularly encouraged to pledge advanced, enabling and force-multiplying capabilities, including capabilities that leverage technological innovation, enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, improve mobility and medical support, strengthen protection against emerging threats, and enable rapid deployment. Such capabilities are essential to maintaining effective operational reach, resilience and mandate delivery in an era where peace operations are expected to achieve greater impact with more limited resources.

Air Assets

Utility Helicopter Units are the most critical specialized capabilities for UN peacekeeping operations that are very low in supply and extremely high in demand.MINUSCA and UNMISS in particular have required additional such aviation capabilities, but there are insufficient Member State pledges of these capabilities in the PCRS.

This medium lift aviation capability should ideally be able to transport a minimum of 12 fully equipped troops and carry at least 3,000 kg of internal cargo or 2,500 kg as an external sling load. It should have an operational range of no less than 300 nautical miles while carrying a full payload and be capable of operating from both prepared and unprepared landing sites during day and night conditions. The aircraft should maintain a high level of readiness to support casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and Quick Reaction Force missions, while also providing versatile support for troop transport, air assault operations, surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue activities.

The platform should be fully equipped for night operations and equipped with Night Vision Goggles (NVG), together with NVG-compatible cockpit and aircraft lighting. To ensure safe and effective operations in low-visibility environments, it should also be fitted with Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems, weather radar, a radar altimeter, searchlight, and advanced navigation systems. In terms of protection and survivability, the aircraft should be capable of mounting door-mounted machine guns for self-protection and escort missions, with the option to install ballistic protection, missile warning systems, and flare/chaff countermeasure systems as mission requirements dictate. It should be suitable for operations across low, medium, and high-threat environments.

For armed configurations, the aircraft should ideally be capable of carrying two side-mounted machine guns of either 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm caliber, with optional integration of 70 mm rocket pods and 12.7 mm or 20 mm gun pods. Certain configurations may also support precision-guided weapons, subject to mandate requirements and applicable national restrictions.

To ensure sustained operational effectiveness, the aircraft should be designed to achieve a target availability rate of at least 75 percent and be supported by an organic maintenance capability capable of sustaining continuous day and night operations in remote deployment locations. Overall, this capability would provide a highly versatile and reliable aviation asset for United Nations peacekeeping operations, delivering troop mobility, logistics support, medical evacuation, emergency response, and mission support functions, with a strong emphasis on night operations, safety, survivability, operational readiness, and self-sustainment.

Attack helicopter units are critical air capabilities in support of operations for field missions mainly for defensive and deterrent roles. Attack helicopters are designed to mainly carry weapons, those weapons may include advanced tactical radars, anti-armor, air to ground, or air-to-air guided weapons, and equipped with integrated fire control and aiming system to provide fire support and ISR.

Tactical Transport Fixed-Wing Aviation Units are also important elements for providing flexibility and rapid response, extending missions’ footprint, and increasing missions’ ability to support components deployed in locations that cannot be sustained by roads. Despite continuing challenges related to host-State authorization for deployment and utilization.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) continue to be required in the medium to long term as critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools that form part of the United Nations’ peacekeeping-intelligence and ISR architecture, while also reducing risk in logistic activities. This includes UAS Class I, Class II, and Class III. Micro and mini UAS Class I may be deployed as organic equipment to support ground units in early warning and observation.

Military Ground Forces

Quick reaction forces (QRF) at company level that are agile and adaptable to evolving situations provide Force and Sector commanders with the ability to intervene rapidly in contingency situations and reinforce planned operations. Infantry Battalions remain required in large United Nations peacekeeping missions and must be able to respond quickly to urgent requirements while maintaining a lighter footprint, without losing their robust posture or the conditions necessary for the safe implementation of mandates. Although the Infantry Battalion Manual and the Generic Statement of Unit Requirements for this unit suggest troop strengths between 622 and 872 troops, battalions of a reduced strength (e.g. 450 troops) may also be requested by missions.

Force Protection and Mandate Implementation

Some capabilities are required both for force protection and for the effective implementation of mandated tasks with high-end capabilities in higher-threat environments. Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) must be capable of adjusting their units or generating independent units. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units and capabilities are required to contribute to missions’ overall capacity to respond to increasing EOD threats, especially those arising from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which affect freedom of manoeuvre and the safety and security of peacekeepers.

In missions facing UAS threats, force protection requirements should also include layered counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and, where appropriate, counter-rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) capabilities, integrated into base defence, command and control, early warning and response procedures. OMA is leading the finalization of a policy that will address the incorporation of such capabilities into mission planning and operational protection measures.

Engineering Units

Military Engineering Units continue to play a crucial role in United Nations peacekeeping operations, contributing to mission success and creating conditions for effective mandate implementation. Engineering Units are responsible for constructing and maintaining critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and airstrips, which are essential for the mobility of peacekeeping forces and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, among other tasks. These units may also support transition phases in coordination with humanitarian and development agencies, as well as host authorities and local populations. Besides regular horizontal and vertical works, additional bridging, mobility-support, and EOD-related capabilities continue to be requested from these units.

Medical Support

A United Nations Level 2 Hospital is a fixed medical facility that provides all Level 1 services and serves as the primary surgical and inpatient capability in a peacekeeping operation. It is required to deliver emergency and damage control surgery, post operative care, intensive care resuscitation, inpatient treatment, and life-saving medical support. The hospital must also provide basic laboratory, imaging, pharmaceutical, preventive medicine, and dental services, staffed by appropriately qualified medical personnel and supported by the equipment prescribed in UN standards. As a self-sustaining capability, the Level 2 Hospital plays a critical role in mission medical support plans and may be enhanced with additional specialist modules.

Police

In line with current and emerging uniformed capability requirements, it is not sufficient for units to be well equipped in terms of equipment; commanders must also be able to understand and address related challenges, having a common understanding of performance-related issues, FPU generation mechanisms, pre-deployment training, and COE matters, as well as the recent changes in key guiding documents such as the revised FPU Policy, PCRS Guidelines, and the COE Manual, among others.

To support this, the Police Division, in collaboration with field missions and some Member States, conducts annual i) FPU Commanders’ workshops. ii) FPU PCCs workshop; and iii) field missions’ FPU Coordinators’ workshops. These workshops include tailored mission scenarios and address topics such as command and control, welfare, gender issues, and conduct and discipline, all of which are thoroughly discussed.In addition, the hosting of performance-related FPU workshops and seminars by PCCs has been one of the key drivers for improving performance. These forums provide valuable opportunities to discuss operational gaps and identify practical measures to address them effectively.

Formed Police Units (FPU) are the core of uniformed police capabilities in UN missions. They should be equipped with relevant capabilities, such as SWAT, rapid reaction, canine and/or riverine elements (e.g., two FPUs at rapid deployment level require SWAT capabilities, one of them being francophone). A platoon size of women as part of each FPU remains essential. Considering the operational realities on the ground and the expanded area of operations, priority should be given to deploying more mobile and flexible FPUs with embedded personnel who possess expertise in weapons and ammunition management and IED awareness, and physical medical assistant particularly in high-threat environments.

Guard Units (GU) and Rapid Response Police Units (RRPU) protect mainly UN personnel and facilities. Rapid Response Police Units are smaller police contingents (about 60 to 80 strength), highly specialized and quickly deployable to support specific mission requirements. As the RRPUs cannot deploy in full self-sustainment, they will require sustainment and logistic support from other units already deployed.

Currently deployed formed police units still require compatible satellite phones, unmanned aircraft system micro (multirotor), force protection surveillance equipment, day and night cameras for camp security, inside base surveillance dome camera (360º + thermal view), armored personnel carriers (APC) wheeled ambulance/rescue, and all-terrain vehicles light. Some PCCs will require support to augment COE so that they meet the renewed statement of unit requirements in line with mission mandates and to enhance safety and security and undertake protection tasks. The UN Secretariat can facilitate bilateral partnerships with concerned PCCs to fill such gaps.

Language skills are also essential. For example, among the current pledges in the PCRS, 89% are from anglophone Member States, while two of the largest missions are francophone. Francophone Member States are therefore strongly encouraged to pledge FPUs, Police Guard Units, and SPTs.

Specialized Police Teams (SPTs) remain a critical capability for United Nations peace operations, providing specialized expertise that complements the work of regular Individual Police Officers and Formed Police Units in addressing mission-specific priorities. Given the evolving security environment and increasingly complex mandates in major field missions, there is a growing need for SPTs in key areas such as community-oriented policing, forensic investigations, scientific police services (police scientifique), border management, airport security, counter-narcotics, and the prevention and investigation of serious and transnational crimes.

These specialized capacities enhance host-State law enforcement institutions, strengthen rule of law efforts, improve criminal investigation and evidence management processes, and support the development of sustainable national policing capabilities. The deployment of appropriately trained and equipped SPTs enables missions to address critical operational gaps, respond effectively to emerging threats, and provide targeted technical assistance in areas where specialized expertise is essential to mandate implementation.

Administration

Following the adoption of General Assembly resolutions 80/271 and 80/272 on 30 June 2026, the Secretariat initiated the implementation of the decisions approved by the General Assembly concerning contingent-owned equipment (COE) reimbursement policies and troop and police reimbursement rates. Resolution 80/271 endorsed the recommendations of the 2026 COE Working Group arising from the triennial review of the rates and standards for reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment, while resolution 80/272 approved a revised troop and police reimbursement rate of USD 1,474.68 per person per month, effective 1 July 2026.

Implementation activities have included the revision of the COE Manual to reflect the recommendations endorsed by the General Assembly, the preparation and issuance of technical guidance to support the application of the revised policy framework, and the processing of technical amendments to Memoranda of Understanding and Reimbursement and Deployment Level agreements. In parallel, the Secretariat has taken the necessary measures to implement the revised troop and police reimbursement rate. In this context, the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division of the Office of Supply Chain Management in the Department of Operational Support briefed Member States on 1 September 2026 on the new personnel reimbursement rate as well as the principal recommendations of the 2026 COE Working Group.

IV. RESOLVING PENDING SEA CASES AND CLAIMS OF PATERNITY AND CHILD SUPPORT

Despite significant progress over the last few years, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) continue to pose an unacceptable risk to the credibility, trust, and effectiveness of United Nations peace operations and the uniformed personnel who serve these missions with pride and dedication. Most critically, SEA results in physical and psychological harm, stigma, and economic hardship to victims and children born of SEA. These impacts are compounded when victims lack access to justice, information about the status of proceedings, and assistance, and when children born of SEA are not recognized and receive no paternal support.

The UN considers actions taken by a Member State to address allegations of SEA and claims of paternity to be a critical component of its assessment of performance in United Nations peacekeeping and in the selection process for troop and police-contributing countries.

Accordingly, the UN calls on Member States to urgently finalize pending national investigations and provide detailed information to the UN on the status and outcome of disciplinary matters.

The UN is also encouraged that a growing number of Troop and Police Contributing Member States have taken clear and decisive action in partnership with the UN to resolve paternity claims. Through these dedicated efforts, a number of children born as a result of SEA received sustainable child support from their fathers for the first time and/or started a process for national registration in their father’s country.

The authority to determine whether biological paternity is established (proven or disproven) with respect to uniformed personnel ultimately rests with each troop and police contributing Member State, through national investigations and judicial processes, in accordance with their national law, normally accomplished through DNA paternity testing. The UN will take a Member State’s action, or inaction, in this regard into consideration in its overall assessment of the performance of troop and police contributing countries.

The UN continues to prioritize and strengthen transparency on the status of paternity cases (see https://conduct.unmissions.org). In the last quarter of 2026, the UN’s public reporting will be enhanced to distinguish claims where a Member State, in partnership with the UN, is taking actions to facilitate legal recognition of paternity and child support from claims where action has not been taken. The public reporting will also indicate whether a Member State has addressed the essential question of biological paternity.

The UN is committed to working with Member States to resolve every claim of paternity and child support in accordance with the rights of victims and children born of SEA and requests each Member State with pending paternity claims to engage directly with the UN to this end.