UN Peacebuilding Fund hits $1 billion milestone amid funding gap

• The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund announced a major milestone, with the approval of more than $1 billion in support to global peacebuilding and conflict-prevention initiatives since 2020.

• The multi-donor trust fund is the UN’s primary instrument for supporting countries worldwide who are emerging from, or at risk of, violent conflict. 

• The Fund sits alongside the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office.

• The announcement came as the Security Council and the General Assembly passed twin resolutions in support of the UN’s peacebuilding body, providing a blueprint to make it more impactful on November 26.

• Despite this achievement, the Fund faces a $500 million shortfall toward its $1.5 billion target for the 2020-2026 period, limiting its ability to meet growing demand for its crucial support services from Member States.

• The Fund currently supports more than 50 countries, three-quarters of them in Africa.

Peacebuilding Fund

• As part of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) serves as a facilitator to enhance coherence and collaboration across the UN system and with partners, in support of nationally owned efforts to build and sustain peace. 

• The PBSO assists and supports the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) with strategic advice and policy guidance, and manages the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) on behalf of the Secretary-General.

• The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is the United Nations’  leading instrument to invest in prevention and peacebuilding, in partnership with the wider UN system, national and sub-national authorities, civil society organisations, regional organisations and multilateral banks. 

• The Fund supports joint UN responses to address critical peacebuilding opportunities, connecting development, humanitarian, human rights and peacebuilding pillars. 

• The core principles of the Fund are being timely, catalytic, and risk-tolerant, and facilitating inclusiveness and national ownership, integrated approaches, and cohesive UN strategies.  

• Since its inception, the Peacebuilding Fund has approved over $2 billion in funding for projects in more than 60 countries thanks to generous voluntary contributions from over 60 UN member states.

• The Fund’s priority windows include supporting cross-border and regional approaches, facilitating UN transition contexts, and fostering inclusion through women and youth empowerment.