This Policy Brief presents challenges and opportunities associated with adopting modular approaches in future peace operations. While streamlined missions offer necessary agility, reducing core Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R) functions risks undermining political engagement with conflict drivers.

Lighter missions must retain sharp advisory capacity for political leadership and leverage networked expertise to scale effectively. The goal is not merely doing more with less, but protecting the governance foundations essential for sustainable transitions.         

The key to success will be found in striking the right balance: peace operations must become lighter on their feet, but mission leadership must remain committed to fostering inclusive and accountable institutions.”                               

Executive Summary :

With the Review of Peace Operations soon to be released, streamlined missions are increasingly presented as a solution to overstretch and political constraints. Greater agility is necessary. But if modularity results in trimming core governance functions — particularly Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R) — missions risk being unable to engage politically with underlying drivers of conflict or lay the foundations for sustainable security. Lighter missions must become sharper: grounded in political strategy, informed by rigorous conflict analysis, and anchored in governance reforms.

The challenge is not simply to do more with less, but to protect what is central to sustainable transitions.

A modular model can support this agenda — if it preserves core advisory capacity to political leadership. Networked approaches should enable the UN to retain standing expertise and scale up when required.

Partnerships must act as force multipliers, leveraging comparative advantages while ensuring ultimate responsibility remains with the UN.