From 19 to 21 March 2023, the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region organized a retreat aiming to identify a set of priorities for the office and establish a stronger working relation and an enhanced organisational culture for a more effective delivery of the mission’s mandate.  

The team discussed various issues, among which external challenges such as the deteriorating political and security situation in the Great Lakes region, the evolving role of the UN and the changing donor funding landscape.

In light of the deteriorating political and security context in the region, the retreat discussed innovative ways in addressing the current crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including supporting the re-vitalization of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region; enhancing confidence-building measures through the Special Envoy’s good offices; and providing support to regional efforts in the areas of judicial cooperation, natural resources, and investment and trade.

The retreat which took place in Diani, Kwale County, Kenya, resulted in a clearer understanding and affirmation of the office mandate, work values and culture, and priorities. The participants laid a foundation for using agile strategies to encourage innovation, build capacity, and strengthen the work of the Office of the Special Envoy.