United Nations Peacebuilding Fund
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) is a multi-year standing trust fund for post-conflict peacebuilding, established in 2006 by the UN Secretary General at the request of the UN General Assembly with an initial funding target of $250 million.
The fund was established out of the recognition that among the impediments to successful peacebuilding is the scarcity of resources, most notably financial resources. The fund aims therefore to extend critical support during the early stages of a peace process. Its design embodies several key principals:
Since its establishment in October 2006, the Peacebuilding Fund facility has been activated for the two countries currently under consideration by the Peacebuilding Commission
, Burundi
and Sierra Leone
. The Secretary-General allocated US$ 35 million each for these two countries earlier this year.
Burundi:
To date, the Peacebuilding Fund approved 12 projects with a total budget of US$ 26,883,000 in the four priority areas set out in the United Nations-Burundi Government Peacebuilding Fund priority plan, namely governance, the security sector, justice and human rights, and land issues.
Sierra Leone:
At present, the Peacebuilding Fund approved 7 projects with a total budget of US$ 15,982,577 in the priority areas of good governance, security and justice sector reform, youth employment and empowerment, and capacity-building.
Côte d’Ivoire:
The Fund approved emergency funding in the amount of US$ 700,000 to support the on-going “Direct Dialogue” between President Laurent Gbagbo
and the former armed opposition, the Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire
, in Ouagadougou
, Burkina Faso
. The funds will help build confidence between ex-belligerents of the Ivorian conflict and contribute to the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, leading to the organization of free and fair elections.
Central African Republic
:
The Fund approved emergency funding in the amount of US$ 801,975 to support political dialogue, including a period of mediation by international facilitators, between the Government, civil society members, opposition political parties and armed opposition groups.
Governance Arrangements:
The General Assembly guides the operations of the Fund and may offer overall policy guidance. The Peacebuilding Commission supports the development of integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery and provides strategic advice in relation to countries under its review. The Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) provides overall direction and guidance on programme management and monitoring.
Fund Administration
The Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Office of the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) serves as the Administrative Agent and is responsible for fund management, including the receipt of donor contributions, the disbursement of funds, and the submission of consolidated narrative and financial reports.
The Advisory Group:
An independent advisory group has been appointed by the Secretary-General to provide advice and oversight of the speed and appropriateness of fund allocations and to examine performance and financial reports. In March 2007, the Secretary-General announced the composition of the Advisory Group: 10 eminent persons, from all regions, with significant peacebuilding experience. The Advisory Group met for the first time on 6 September 2007.
The fund was established out of the recognition that among the impediments to successful peacebuilding is the scarcity of resources, most notably financial resources. The fund aims therefore to extend critical support during the early stages of a peace process. Its design embodies several key principals:
- Recognition of national ownership of peace processes
- The need to serve as a ‘catalyst’ to kick-start critical peacebuilding inventions
- To utilize United Nations Agencies, funds and programmes as recipients to support project implementation by national entities
- To operate as a disbursement process at the country level
Since its establishment in October 2006, the Peacebuilding Fund facility has been activated for the two countries currently under consideration by the Peacebuilding Commission
Peacebuilding Commission
The Peacebuilding Commission was established in December 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council acting concurrently...
, Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. The Secretary-General allocated US$ 35 million each for these two countries earlier this year.
Burundi:
To date, the Peacebuilding Fund approved 12 projects with a total budget of US$ 26,883,000 in the four priority areas set out in the United Nations-Burundi Government Peacebuilding Fund priority plan, namely governance, the security sector, justice and human rights, and land issues.
Sierra Leone:
At present, the Peacebuilding Fund approved 7 projects with a total budget of US$ 15,982,577 in the priority areas of good governance, security and justice sector reform, youth employment and empowerment, and capacity-building.
Côte d’Ivoire:
The Fund approved emergency funding in the amount of US$ 700,000 to support the on-going “Direct Dialogue” between President Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Gbagbo
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo served as the fourth President of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 until his arrest in April 2011. A historian by profession, he is also an amateur chemist and physicist....
and the former armed opposition, the Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire
Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire
The Forces Nouvelles de Côte d'Ivoire is a political coalition that was formed in December 2002, in the wake of the first peace accords of the Ivorian Civil War.-Composition:FNCI includes these political parties:...
, in Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou
Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
. The funds will help build confidence between ex-belligerents of the Ivorian conflict and contribute to the implementation of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement, leading to the organization of free and fair elections.
Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
:
The Fund approved emergency funding in the amount of US$ 801,975 to support political dialogue, including a period of mediation by international facilitators, between the Government, civil society members, opposition political parties and armed opposition groups.
Governance Arrangements:
The General Assembly guides the operations of the Fund and may offer overall policy guidance. The Peacebuilding Commission supports the development of integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery and provides strategic advice in relation to countries under its review. The Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) provides overall direction and guidance on programme management and monitoring.
Fund Administration
The Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) Office of the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP) serves as the Administrative Agent and is responsible for fund management, including the receipt of donor contributions, the disbursement of funds, and the submission of consolidated narrative and financial reports.
The Advisory Group:
An independent advisory group has been appointed by the Secretary-General to provide advice and oversight of the speed and appropriateness of fund allocations and to examine performance and financial reports. In March 2007, the Secretary-General announced the composition of the Advisory Group: 10 eminent persons, from all regions, with significant peacebuilding experience. The Advisory Group met for the first time on 6 September 2007.