The Letter dated 10 December 2008 from the Secretary-General to the President of the Security Council clearly spells out the mandate of UNOGBIS in Guinea-Bissau:
"(a) assisting the Peacebuilding Commission in its multidimensional engagement with Guinea-Bissau;
(b) strengthening the capacities of national institutions, including law enforcement and criminal justice systems, in order to maintain constitutional order;
(c) supporting an all-inclusive national reconciliation and political dialogue process as an institutionalized peace consolidation framework;
(d) supporting and facilitating the implementation of security sector reform;
(e) extending cooperation to national authorities in their efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime;
(f) assisting with the promotion and institutionalization of respect for the rule of law and human rights;
(g) mainstreaming a gender perspective into peacebuilding, in line with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000);
(h) facilitating efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and contributing to the collection of small arms and light weapons held illicitly; and
(i) enhancing cooperation with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the European Union and other partners in efforts to contribute to the stabilization of Guinea-Bissau."