Following the recommendations of the Panel on UN Peace Operations and the goals formulated in DPKO's 2002 Programme Management Plan, the Peacekeeping Best Practices Unit (PBPU) was tasked in spring 2002 to review existing DPKO best practices/lessons learned mechanisms, and make recommendations for an effective new methodology. The review was conducted between April and end June 2002.Out of the review were three main recommendations. 1. A standard methodology for capturing, analysing, validating and disseminating lessons learned/best practices should be applied throughout DPKO 2. The Best Practices Unit should be assigned the central role within DPKO for coordinating and facilitating the collection, analysis, validation and dissemination of lessons learned/best practice. 3. The Best Practices Unit should develop an electronic database (Lotus or web-based) of best practices/key documents which would be accessible to all DPKO staff at HQ and in the field.