This report examines the civilian capabilities that must be deployed early in a United Nations peace operation. All too often, analysts emphasize expansive civilian inputs into multi-dimensional peace operations at the expense of meaningful identification of which inputs are truly critical in the immediate aftermath of war. This report focuses on what we consider to be a first-priority responsibility: the establishment or restoration of basic standards of security and protection for citizens of the host country. This specific focus will be placed within the wider debate over the ability of the United Nations to provide appropriate levels of skilled civilian personnel and financing in a timely manner.