The Northern Ireland Office was tonight honoured for their handling of the peace process.
Civil servants involved in every stage of the process picked up two awards including the top prize at the second annual Whitehall and Westminster Civil Service Awards in London.
They scooped the leadership award and the overall award at a ceremony in Lancaster House attended by the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell, who presented the NIO team with their gong, said they were being honoured for showing tremendous commitment to the peace process over many difficult years and in the face of considerable demands.
He said: "The NIO team is being recognised for their dedication to the process.
"Over the years the team undertook considerable work whether it was in reforming the police or the criminal justice system, managing the relationships between the different political parties, organising Prime Ministerial summits and drafting complex legislation sometimes at short notice.
"They are being rewarded for going the extra mile to ensure the peace process is kept alive.
"I think the work they and others did really is a model for conflict resolution around the world. A lot of lessons can be drawn from what they did in Northern Ireland."
A total of 13 awards were handed out to civil servants who have demonstrated excellence in an array of disciplines.
PA