PKO.2.1. Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) funds are considered legally obligated once the Interagency Agreement (IAA) is fully signed. The funds can be expended and will remain available for disbursements consistent with the purposes for which they were appropriated, notified to Congress, obligated, and expended. The time period of availability will be addressed in each individual IAA but should not exceed nine years after the initial period of availability of the funds.

PKO.2.2. Reprogramming. Department of State (State) is able to de-obligate PKO funds and reprogram them up to four years after the initial period of availability as long as the funds are obligated during their period of availability. Starting with Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 PKO, State has reviewed unexpended prior year PKO funds to ensure that funds are de-obligated and returned to State prior to the end of the re-programming period if there are not sufficient requirements remaining at DSCA. See Section C11.3.3.1.2.3. Title 22 De-obligation and Re-obligation Authority. for more information.

PKO.2.3. Beginning in FY 2012, State and DSCA started tracking PKO by the period of availability of the appropriations with different security cooperation customer codes (SCCCs) for the availability. In addition, Africa PKO funds received a different SCCC than global PKO funds. This enabled easier tracking at DSCA and State. Starting with FY 2012 PKO-Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) and FY 2013 PKO funds, State has re-classified certain PKO funds in place (without de-obligating PKO funds) in order to have State’s financial system match the legal availability of the funds. Re-classification in place is done by exception only; State and DSCA standard procedure is to de-obligate residual funds during the re-programming period.

PKO.2.4. Prior Peacekeeping Operations. PKO funds appropriated in or before FY 2011 all used the S4 SCCC (which was also shared with other programs that used what were at the time “pseudo” cases but are now referred to as Building Partner Capacity (BPC) cases). The last PKO funds (which could have been for Africa or the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI)) under S4 cancelled on September 30, 2021 (since FY 2011 funds cancelled after nine years).

PKO.2.5. Also beginning in FY 2012, Congress began appropriating PKO annually with two different availabilities: base (or one-year funds) and OCO funds (two-year funds). Beginning in FY 2022, Congress stopped appropriating funds as OCO but instead appropriated two-year funds along with one-year funds. Therefore, FY 2012 PKO-OCO and FY 2013 base PKO funds have the same period of availability for obligation (i.e., all funds must be obligated by September 30, 2013). Accordingly, those funds share the same SCCC.

PKO.2.6. State and DSCA concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the management of the PKO account in April 2018. As part of the MOU, DSCA hosts an annual financial management review (FMR) for the PKO account (split into Africa and global sections).

PKO.2.7. PKO funds can be used to procure equipment purchased in the United States, the Benefitting Partner, or non-advanced developing partners (please see State’s specific guidance on this issue). Contact DSCA (Office of International Operations, Global Capability Development Division (IOPS/GCD)) for PKO procurements restrictions guidance and impacts on the individual programs.

PKO.2.8. Restrictions. Funds can continue to be utilized in accordance with the IAA and MOR once they are obligated. If policy or legal restrictions impact already obligated funds, Department of State, Bureau of Political and Military Affairs (State (PM)) will send a memo to DSCA clarifying the change in status. Examples may include sanctions due to a change in leadership within the Benefitting Partner or other policy determinations. Additional questions should be directed to the relevant State point of contact (POC) on the IAA.

PKO.2.8.1. Eligibility. The President determines which partners or international organizations are eligible to receive PKO assistance. The DoD may only obligate funds for recipient Benefitting Partners listed in the IAA.

PKO.2.9. Programs. PKO funds support bilateral, regional and global programs. State decides whether to request funds bilaterally (there are very few bilateral programs), regionally, or globally. PKO programs are implemented in Africa or globally and are managed by different program offices at State. However, all the Africa PKO and global PKO programs are subject to the same laws and policies as they are all funded from the same account/appropriation. The Department of State, Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, Office of Security Assistance (State (PM/SA)) manages the overall PKO account and works closely with the program office in Bureau of African Affairs, Regional Peace and Security (State (AF/RPS)) and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Global Programs and Initiatives (State (PM/GPI)).

PKO.2.9.1. Africa Programs. State currently has one bilateral PKO funded program and eight regional PKO-funded programs supporting Africa. Beginning in FY 2020, State has provided one solicitation for all Africa PKO programs versus individual PKO proposal solicitations. However, the number of bilateral and regional programs is subject to change on a fiscal year basis.

PKO.2.9.1.1. Central African Republic. Funds support Central African Republic (CAR) Government efforts to implement defense sector reform. These efforts include training and equipping the military, providing advisory support to the government’s Defense Sector Reform (DSR) efforts, and performing capacity building in defense oversight and security sector governance. This bilateral program ended with FY 2022 funds.

PKO.2.9.1.2. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Funds support military reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) so that the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) are a professional, accountable force capable of maintaining peace and security in a manner that respects human rights and is consistent with international law. This may include continued capacity and institution building of the military justice system, capacity-building and mainstreaming of civil-military relations and operations into military training and improving the Congolese military logistics system so that the FARDC can deploy and sustain its troops without exploiting local populations. PKO funds may support advisory assistance at the national, strategic, and operational levels and training, equipment, and infrastructure improvements that contribute to the professionalization of a Congolese military that respects human rights, demonstrates command and control, and holds its members accountable in the military justice system. This bilateral program ended with FY 2022 funds.

PKO.2.9.1.3. Liberia. Funds support national level security sector reform including the long-term effort to transform the Liberian military into professional armed forces that respect the rule of law, has capacity to protect Liberia’s borders and maintain adequate security in the partner’s territory. [Starting in FY 2021, Liberia no longer receives bilateral PKO funds. Funds are allocated out of the regional PKO program.]

PKO.2.9.1.4. Somalia. Funds provide voluntary support to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and its troop-contributing partners, including training and advisory services, equipment, aerial surveillance. PKO funding also provides training, advisory, equipment, logistical, operational, and facilities support to defeat al-Shabaab and ensure Somali military forces and defense institutions have the ability to contribute to security and stability in support of international peace process efforts, and as part of a multi-sector approach to post-conflict security sector reform (SSR).

PKO.2.9.1.5. South Sudan. Funds currently support diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict in South Sudan peacefully. This bilateral program ended in FY 2022.

PKO.2.9.1.6. Africa Conflict Stabilization and Border Security. Africa Conflict Stabilization and Border Security (ACSBS) funding will support efforts to address and mitigate regional crises on the African continent; provide advisory assistance, training, infrastructure enhancements, and equipment to forces responding to those crises; and support. SSR efforts involving militaries, civilian institutions, and civil society. Funds will support operations, maintenance and supply procurement for the logistics depot in Freetown, Sierra Leone; capacity-building activities in select Benefitting Partners that enhance operations to counter illicit wildlife trafficking; and targeted support for stabilization and SSR efforts in partner territories.

PKO.2.9.1.7. Africa Military Education Program. Africa Military Education Program (AMEP) funding supports professionalization at the institutional level of select African Benefitting Partners, foreign military educational institutions, and the long-term professionalization of African militaries. AMEP PKO funds training, and potentially equipment and supplies to African military training and education institutions to enhance their ability to professionalize their militaries, including by reinforcing the value and importance of civilian control of the military, respect for the rule of law, and human rights.

PKO.2.9.1.8. Africa Maritime Security Initiative. Africa Maritime Security Initiative (AMSI) funds will continue to enhance maritime security capabilities through the provision of training activities, advisory support, and modest equipment.

PKO.2.9.1.9. Africa Regional Counterterrorism. Africa Regional Counterterrorism (ARCT) funds sustain prior counterterrorism assistance with select Trans Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) and Partnership for Regional East Africa Counterterrorism (PREACT) military Benefitting Partners. Assistance may include spare parts, replacement equipment, training, technical advisors, infrastructure to support the already provided equipment, and other related support. ARCT fully transitioned from the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program (funded by FY 2013 – FY 2017 FMF-OCO) to PKO in FY 2019.

PKO.2.9.1.10. Partnership for Regional East Africa Counterterrorism. PREACT is an interagency program designed to build the capacity of governments in East Africa to counter terrorism, including emergent threats posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Shabaab across the East Africa region (including newest partner Mozambique). Funds enhance the tactical, strategic, and institutional capacity of PREACT Benefitting Partner militaries to respond to current and emergent terrorist threat. Funds also support advisory assistance, infrastructure improvements, and training and equipping of military Counterterrorism (CT) units in the East Africa region.

PKO.2.9.1.11. Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership. The Trans Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) is an interagency program designed to build the capacity and cooperation of governments across West and North Africa to counter terrorism, in particular ISIS-West Africa, al-Qa’ida in the Maghreb, and Boko Haram impacted areas across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin partner territories (and potentially including littoral West African partners as threats warrant. Funds enhance the military capacity of TSCTP Benefitting Partners to respond to current and emerging threats. Funds will support advisory assistance, infrastructure improvement, and training and equipping of military CT units in the West and North African regions.

PKO.2.9.1.12. Countering Strategic Competitor. The Countering Strategic Competitors (CSC) is a new program in Africa starting with FY 2022 funds. Funds will support efforts to counter strategic competitors such as the Governments of Russia and China in sub-Saharan Africa through military assistance. Efforts could include support for training, infrastructure, advisors, or equipment.

PKO.2.9.1.13. Prevention and Stabilization Fund. Prevention and Stabilization Fund (PSF) PKO funds will directly support the implementation of the strategy under the 2019 Global Fragility Act (GFA) adopting a multi-pronged, multi-sectoral approach to strengthen the resilience of Benefitting Partners and civil society to address fragility challenges for partners at risk of or experiencing instability and conflict. PSF PKO funding will seek to bolster the capacity of Benefitting Partner governments to conduct counterterrorism operations in support of stabilization efforts in fragile states. This funding will also enhance security governance and security sector reform.

PKO.2.10. Global Programs. State currently has two PKO-funded global programs. State (PM/GPI) individually solicitates potential Benefitting Partners for global PKO programs.

PKO.2.11. Global Peace Operations Initiative. GPOI funds enhance the unit effectiveness of troop and police contributors to the United Nations (UN) and regional peace operations, which are strategically important to U.S. national security. These efforts promote international burden sharing by strengthening Benefitting Partner capabilities to train their own peacekeepers and building the capacity of the UN and African Union to effectively plan and manage such operations. Funds will also continue to support Benefitting Partner’s development and employment of critical-enabling capabilities such as aviation, engineering, medical, and logistics, which are persistent shortfalls needed to improve the effectiveness of peace operations. The program will remain responsive to operational requirements on an as-needed basis by supporting the deployment of troops to peace operations, with a particular focus on enabling partners to rapidly respond to conflict-related crises worldwide. Interventions will include training on protecting civilians in areas of armed conflict and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse issues in peacekeeping. Funds will also support efforts to promote women’s participation and gender integration in peace operations.

PKO.2.11.1. Global Defense Reform Program. Global Defense Reform Program (GDRP) funds support defense reform in select Benefitting partners on a competitive basis, to help enhance the ability of these partners to better provide for their own defense and contribute to regional and global security over the long term. Activities include advisory support, training, instructor, and/or curriculum development at Benefitting Partner military education institutions, and other related institutional reform support.

PKO.2.11.2. Security Force Professionalization. Security Force Professionalization (SFP) increases Benefitting Partner capacity to collect, track, and analyze data on civilian casualties resulting from military operations of the respective government, including to apply lessons learned to future operations, and to enhance investigative capacity, transparency, and accountability. This program was incorporated into the GDRP program starting with FY 2023 funds.

PKO.2.11.3. African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership. African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership (APRRP) was a targeted State security assistance initiative focused on helping select African Benefitting Partners to build, strengthen, and institutionalize capabilities to rapidly respond to crises on the African continent. APRRP was a three-year program funded in FY 2015-2017. APRRP complements the broader peacekeeping capacity building efforts of the GPOI by focusing on developing high demand enabling capabilities (e.g. aviation; command, control, communications, and information systems (C3IS); engineering; logistics; medical; and formed police units (FPUs)) that are persistent shortfalls in UN and regional peace operations, which underpin capacity to deploy a rapid response force. While no new funding for APRRP has been provided by State since FY 2017, expired funds that were previously obligated are still being used to execute APRRP initiatives.