UNMIS’s Civil Affairs Section reports to the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

The Civil Affairs Section consists of a main office in Khartoum and a network of field offices. As of July 2005, Civil Affairs officers are at work in Darfur, and deployment in Southern and Eastern Sudan will follow with mobile teams in several locations.

The aims of the Civil Affairs Section are:

1. Support the commitment of the two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to "initiate a comprehensive process of national reconciliation and healing" and "make unity attractive."
2. Understand the environment and the bearing of the conflict on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, while paying special attention to its Power and Wealth Sharing provisions.
3. Offer mediation services and support to Sudanese partners to address tensions detrimental to peace consolidation in all parts of Sudan.
4. Integrate cross cutting policies on gender sensitiveness and prevention of sexual abuse in the planning and implementation of work together with Sudanese partners.

The Civil Affairs Section intends to meet its aims by:

• Monitoring and verifying the implementation of the North-South Peace Agreement and supporting the resolution of the conflicts in Darfur and in the East;
• Analyzing and reporting on political, social and economic developments, as well as providing early warning analysis and recommendations;
• Offering policy and operational advice and assistance to both UNMIS leadership and Sudanese partners, including through mediation and facilitation;
• Collaborating with the civilian and military components of UNMIS as well as local and international actors, to consolidate peace;
• Engaging communities to participate in confidence and peace building programs with a special attention to female and children ex-combatants and returnees;
• Supporting the capacity building and empowerment of civil society in the spirit of democratic governance and other principles enshrined in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

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