Christopher Coleman

Christopher Coleman

Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) 

Christopher Coleman was appointed Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on 23 December 2015. Until his appointment, he had been serving as Deputy Director of the Africa II Division (Central, North and West Africa) in the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) of the United Nations since August 2013.
 
Mr. Coleman has played a central role from 2006 to present in strengthening the UN’s practical work in the prevention and mediation of armed conflict. As Chief of the Mediation Support Unit, from 2006 to 2013, he also carried out special assignments as Director of the Civilian Capacities Project and as a Director at the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General.
 
From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Coleman was Deputy Director of DPA’s Africa 1 Division, dealing with the Greater Horn of Africa, Africa’s Great Lakes Region and Southern Africa.
 
From 2001 to 2005, he was Team Leader for East Africa in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  In that position he provided strategic direction to the peacekeeping mission that maintained the ceasefire between Ethiopia and Eritrea; played an active role in the three-year peace talks leading to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (the “North-South Agreement”); and led UN planning for the peacekeeping operation which supported the implementation of that agreement.  He also worked extensively with the African Union (AU) in helping it to strengthen its peacekeeping operation in Darfur (Western Sudan).
 
From 1993 to 2001 Mr. Coleman was Chief of Policy and Analysis in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.  From 1990 to 1993, as a consultant to major troop contributors and to the UN System, he designed training programmes on the civilian aspects of peacekeeping. From 1984 to 1990 he held a series of positions at the International Peace Academy, including Director of Peacekeeping Training and Director of Conflict Resolution Studies. From 1983 to 84 he worked at the Organization of American States, focusing on the Central American conflict.
 
Mr. Coleman holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.  He has been a Visiting Fellow at Brown and Yale Universities and has authored a number of articles on UN peacekeeping, the exercise of leverage in peace processes, and UN reform.