Michael von der Schulenburg
Born: 16 October 1948, Munich
Nationality: German
Family status: one wife, four children, two dogs
Languages: German, English, French, some Spanish and embarrassing little Dutch
Honors: 2020 Grand Commander of the Republic of Sierra Leone (highest honor of SL) Post retirement activities

Since Retired from the UN, various teaching engagements,
published various papers on May 2012 peacebuilding and peacekeeping;
including a book “On Building Peace – Rescuing the Nation-state and Saving the United Nations” AUP, 2017; (see final section on publications).

Many speaking engagements in Geneva, London, Oxford, Wilton Park, Reading, Washington, New York, Beijing, Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Krems, Alpbach, Freiburg, Turin, Vienna, Guangzhou, etc. Oct. 2018 Visiting fellow at Pembroke College, Oxford for their program ‘Changing Character of War’; it is planned that I concentrate on how changing wars impact on peace negotiations and peace agreements.

Papers: Era of Armed Non-State Actors (series of three papers) April-May Afghanistan: Participated in a strategic review of the future role of UN mission in 2017 Afghanistan (UNAMA); prepared a proposal for the SG and Security Council on changing UN mandate from post-conflict peacebuilding to peace-making in conflict, outlined approach for eventual peace negotiations with the Taliban, suggested organizational adjustments for UNAMA. Report: Brief for SG: A Strategic Review; Seeking an Afghan Peace Solution October 2016 Sahel: Mission for the UN into the G-5 Sahel; prepared to proposal for a UN Feb. 2017 supported strategy to help prevent terrorism and extremism among the youth; Sept.- Dec. Bundeswehr (German military): Member of an expert panel formed by German 2016 Institute for Politics and Security (Stiftung für Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP), Berlin, to review options for future of German foreign political and military interventions.

Report: Germany’s New Clothes Work experiences

June 2008 – April 2012 Sierra Leone Executive Representative of the Secretary General to Sierra Leone (ERSG) Served as ERSG while also being the head of the UN political mission, the UN resident coordinator, UN humanitarian coordinator, UNDP resident representative and Designated Official for security in Sierra Leone. The for the UN unusual assignments was a decision by the Security Council to bring about a single leadership and single strategy for implementing an integrated peacebuilding approach in Sierra Leone. Ended UN peacekeeping operation to replace it with a civilian fully integrated peacebuilding mission that combined the political mandate with the development and humanitarian mandates of UN agencies into one single strategy, introduced a stronger UN focus with only 21 and later seven integrated programs; responsible for 2008 local and regional elections, succeeded in calming of the 2009 outbreak of political violence, developed a Joint Communique under which government and opposition parties could work together, prevented the derailing of the 2012 presidential elections, developed an exit strategy based on seven sets of criteria. Interlocutor with the Peacebuilding Commission. Main report: A Joint communique for Sierra Leone; October 2009; A Criteria-based UN Transition Strategy for Sierra Leone;

April 2008 – May 2008 Afghanistan Special mission to Afghanistan, ASG On behalf of UN-DPA conducted a comprehensive review of the role of the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) and its operational activities throughout the country, and prepared proposals for a better future UN focus of its engagements. Main report: Enhancing the Role of the UN in Afghanistan by Reaching out;

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