Ambassadorial-level PBC meeting on the 2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture

Check Against Delivery

Ministers, excellencies,

Thank you for sharing the experiences from The Gambia, which illustrate the importance of prioritizing prevention and peacebuilding with the overarching goal of sustaining peace. 

In The Gambia, the UN Peacebuilding Architecture supports inclusive transitional justice processes, bridging of divides in communities, and women’s participation in peacebuilding and political processes. Indeed, such nationally owned and locally driven efforts are key to address the drivers of conflict in today’s world. 

Excellencies, we have an opportunity to strengthen the UN Peacebuilding Architecture. Today, I will share four points on its review.  

First, Denmark hopes the review will be as concrete and operational as possible. Improving impact on the ground has always been the key for a successful Peacebuilding Architecture. This relates to coherent approaches across humanitarian affairs, sustainable development, peacebuilding and climate action. It relates to systematic UN-IFI engagement, and it relates to taking into account all stakeholders that contribute to sustaining peace, not the least local peacebuilders, women and youth organizations.
 
Second, in this review process, we must listen to those countries affected by conflict and the countries being taken into consideration of the Commission – we need to understand priorities seen from their perspective. Not least African perspectives and needs are important.

Third, the General Assembly resolution on financing for peacebuilding was an important new initiative, as was securing assessed contributions to the PBF, both signaling that peacebuilding is core business of the UN. However, UN peacebuilding efforts face a gap between demand and available resources. It is paramount that we retain the level of voluntary contributions to the Fund and increase efforts to bring new voluntary donors on board. This is a collective responsibility of current large donors, the secretariat and most importantly, countries, who receive PBF funds. They can make the most credible case for the importance of peacebuilding. 

Finally, we must continue to prioritize prevention even in context of the ongoing crises and conflicts. We must consider the capacity of the UN system to support national and regional prevention efforts.  

In conclusion, strengthening the Peacebuilding Architecture is not only about what we do. It is about how we do it. We need a UN toolbox, which can address the challenges of today and sustain peace in the future. An effective Peacebuilding Architecture is an essential part of that toolbox. We can support this by enhancing impact, mobilizing resources, and prioritizing prevention. 

Thank you.