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Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), cont.
PBF supporting national political dialogue in Yemen
L-R: Amb. Jan Knutsson (Sweden), ASG Cheng-Hopkins and Mr. Brian
Williams, Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding Branch, PBSO, at the 2013
PBF Advisory Group meeting.
Dear Friends,
Seven years after its establishment, the UN Peacebuilding
Fund (PBF) is considered to have come of age. It is now
widely recognized as a fast, early, and catalytic fund, and it
plays a strategic role in strengthening the political hand of
the senior UN representatives on the ground, from Guinea to
Yemen, from Guinea Bissau to the Central African Republic.
To further fine-tune this instrument – and in line with the
General Assembly’s requirement – we have recently
commissioned an independent Review, which is being
conducted by Channel Research, a consulting firm based in
Belgium. The Review will assist the Peacebuilding Support
Office (PBSO) to strategically reposition the PBF in a
changing global context and complement our efforts to
replenish the Fund’s financial base. The Review will seek to
learn lessons, identifying where, how and why the Fund has
been effective (or not). In addition, I see this review as an
On 25 September, PBSO approved two IRF projects in support
of the national dialogue process, led by Mr. Jamal Benomar,
the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General in Yemen. The
first project approved with a funding allocation of US $1
million is a joint OSASG/UNFPA/UN Women project to
support “Youth and Women participation to the National
Dialogue process”. The other PBF funded project, also with
an allocation of US $1 million, aims to help address land
grievances in the South. The profile of this project was
elevated to critical following the empowerment of recently
established Land and Civil Rights Commissions to help
address land disputes in the South of the country.
On PBF Guidance Note on conflict analysis
PBF has finalized a short Guidance Note on conflict analysis
aimed specifically at partners at the country level preparing for
PBF support. The Note makes it clear that the PBF strongly
encourages the UN System on the ground and partner
Governments to undertake a joint conflict analysis as a
foundational step for developing proposals for PBF funds. The
Note provides a brief and user-friendly explanation of why
conflict analysis is important for PBF support, its major
content and methodological considerations, how it should be
used for PBF support, what assistance PBSO can provide in
this regard, and a list of possible analysis tools. The Note
opportunity to demonstrate the impact of the Fund to date to
our partners and sponsors. It will inform the Fund’s
Business Plan for 2014 -2016.
Let me raise a few key issues that require further exploration:
We have observed that PBF funds are best used when there is
a clear understanding of peacebuilding issues at country
level; being on the Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC)
agenda certainly helps in this regard, but in other countries,
too, we see the need for, and value of, strong governmental
and UN leadership. Still, we are not yet at the stage where
all proposals qualify as solid peacebuilding. When
functioning properly, I see the Fund-inspired, country-level
Joint Steering Committee (JSC) as a unique political
platform for dialogue and national ownership that can both
motivate – and hold accountable – leadership on the ground
to design solid peacebuilding programmes and not simply
pull old, unfunded project proposals off the shelf!
The two-window feature of the PBF is another key attraction.
The immediate response facility (IRF) can be activated and
funds allocated to the field days after an appropriate and
urgent proposal is put forward. The Peace and Recovery
Facility (PRF) is a longer-term fund linked to a wellconceptualized priority peacebuilding plan.
However, the purpose of this article is not to extol the virtues
of the PBF but rather to clarify a misunderstanding that has
beset it for too long: that allocations from the PBF are or
should be made by the PBC. There is no question that there
ought to be a synergistic relationship between the PBC and
the programmes funded by the PBF on the ground. The issue
here is to what extent the PBC has the first and final word on
the allocation of the PBF rather than playing an advisory and
consultative role as to the best usage of the PBF in each
instance. The top donors to the PBF have consistently
insisted that they wish the PBF to be managed as any other
fund in the UN: with the same rigor when it comes to project
appraisal, approval, monitoring and evaluation, and obvious
accountability to both recipients and donors. In other words,
the PBF has to be managed independently and its decisionmaking process managed rigorously. I hope this finally
clarifies the issue, and as always, I look forward to your
feedback.
Judy Cheng-Hopkins
Assistant Secretary-General
for Peacebuilding Support
highlights the importance of integrating gender analysis into a
conflict analysis. The Guidance Note will also be attached to
the UNDP's forthcoming Conflict-Related Development
Analysis Manual, as a practical module on using conflict
analysis. The Guidance Note is available online.
Construction of the first Justice and Security Hub in Gbarnga, serving Bong,
Lofa and Nimba counties.
New PBF allocation for Liberia
On 3 October, PBSO approved a contribution of
US $15 million for the Liberia Peacebuilding Priority Plan,
which is fully aligned behind the Government’s Agenda for
Transformation. This contribution will kick-start National
Reconciliation Roadmap and related initiatives.
In particular, this PBF allocation is expected to contribute to:
i)
The effective functioning of an alternative land dispute
resolution system managed by the new national Land
Agency. This PBF allocation is expected to increase the
number of land disputes taken up by the Land
Coordination Centers (LCCs) (set up by the Land
Commission) from 148 (June 2013) to 550 by 2015;
ii) Enhanced social cohesion through the empowerment and
enhanced sustainable livelihoods of youth and women in
conflict-prone areas. This PBF allocation aims to increase
the number of National Youth Volunteers providing
services to key institutions in 12 counties from 315
(September 2013) to 490 by 2015;
iii) Increase the number of County Peace Committees (CPCs)
from 7 (2013) to 15 counties in 2016; as well as the
number of Early Warning & Early Response (EWER)
mechanisms from 4 (2013) to 13 counties in 2016.
The plan will also address the establishment of adequate
mechanisms for dealing with the past through the Palava Hut
process for truth-telling, atonement and reconciliation in pilot
communities; promote increased women’s participation in
conflict management, peacebuilding and local decision-making
in selected communities; set up a strategic and operational
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Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)
framework for transparent, accountable and conflict-sensitive
management of natural resources; and support the effective
development of the constitutional and legal reform through an
inclusive, participatory process.
PBSO would like to see this contribution to reconciliation
expanded by timely investments from the Government of
Liberia as well as from other development partners.
***
Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)
On 2 October 2013, the Liberia Configuration of the
Peacebuilding Commission convened an informal meeting. At
the meeting, chaired by H.E. Mr. Staffan Tillander, Chair of
the Configuration, Amb. Tillander gave a briefing on his recent
visit to Liberia, by PBSO on matters concerning the PBF in
Liberia, and by UNMIL on Security Sector Reform and the
Liberian Constitutional Reform process.
The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group. Their terms
have been extended to October 2014.
Meeting of the Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group, 7-8
October 2013
The Secretary-General’s Advisory Group of the PBF held its
fourth meeting on 7-8 October 2013.
The Advisory Group once more focused on the progress of
its three priorities for 2012-13. A highlight of the meeting
was the presentation of the PBF Review Inception Report by
independent consulting firm, Channel Research, with
feedback from interviews conducted with PBF partners and
from two of the seven field visits conducted as of the
meeting date. The Group proposed a number of ways to
further strengthen the usefulness of the review, noting that
this exercise should shed light on the impact of the fund to
date. The final report will be submitted to PBSO during the
first quarter of 2014.
The term of office of the current group was extended by the
Secretary-General to October 2014. The Group endorsed the
idea to shift the Annual PBF Stakeholders event 2014 to
allow for the presentation of PBF Review findings to
stakeholders and partners. The Group supported the idea to
increase the quality of PBF country evaluations by managing
them more directly from PBSO. In addition, the Group
acknowledged the capacity constraints for the PBF team
given that PBF stakeholders are asking them to do more in
terms of programme design assistance, knowledge
management/ learning and communications. The Group
also acknowledged work done by PBSO and ACCORD to
convene the 1st PBF Global Workshop, held in Cape Town,
9-11 July 2013.
***
Policy, Planning and Application Branch (PPAB)
PBSO has supported the launch of a new website dedicated to
preventing and managing land and natural resource conflict.
The website, with versions in English, French and Spanish, is
the fruit of a partnership between the UN and the EU, focused
on building capacities for conflict prevention, land and natural
resources. The website includes links to a number of practical
guidance notes and training material on land and conflict,
extractives and conflict, renewable resources and conflict,
capacity building for natural resource management and conflict
prevention in resource rich economies, all developed by the
UN-EU partnership.
The United Nations Interagency Framework Team for
Preventive Action manages the joint global UN-EU project
financed by the EU’s Instrument for Stability. On the UN side,
the Framework Team brings together UN agencies and
departments (DESA, DPA, HABITAT, IOM, PBSO, UNDP,
and UNEP) to support countries to improve natural resource
management for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
PPAB, jointly with the Rule of Law unit in EOSG and UNDP,
coordinated an inter-agency process to produce the Issues brief
on "Conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding and the
promotion of durable peace, rule of law and governance" for
the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development
Goals, which will meet in February to discuss these issues.
On 18 October, Mr. Henk-Jan Brinkman, Chief of PPAB,
participated as a discussant in a symposium on Religion and
Social Cohesion in Conflict-Affected Countries. The
symposium, which took place at the International Peace
The next meeting of the Group will be held 31 March – 1
April 2014.
Evaluation of PBF portfolio in DRC completed
In 2009, the PBF approved a US $20 million Peacebuilding
Priority Plan package of support to Eastern DRC. In
September 2013, an independent evaluation of PBF support
was completed, finding that:
i)
Support was strongly aligned to the International
Strategy for Support to Security and Stability (ISSS) in
the Eastern DRC and the Government's own strategy
(STAREC);
ii) Support had a significant financial catalytic effect for the
ISSSS;
iii) Most projects were relevant to the peacebuilding needs;
iv) Just over half the projects achieved their immediate
objectives, with others having weak effects.
Nonetheless, overall, the independent reviewers found that
projects were not able to have a significant effect on peace in
Eastern Congo, partly due to a perceived lack of political will
by the national authorities, a lack of local-level political
processes, and weak ownership of the stabilisation process
by both the Government and the UN. It was also felt that the
PBF portfolio of projects mostly focused on immediate
conflict triggers rather than on deeper causes. The evaluation
is now available on the PBF website.
This funding decision comes after PBSO agreed on 22 July
to make available a support package of up to US $5 million
from the PBF’s IRF in order to support critical activities that
need to be initiated in the pre-electoral period. While the US
$16.8 million earlier allocated under the PBF Priority Plan
remains suspended, the unfreezing of PBF support follows
efforts by the transition leadership in Guinea-Bissau to work
towards normalcy in the country. In addition, PBSO lifted
the suspension on the project “Quick and Multi-level Impact
for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Improving of
Working Conditions”, funded under the PBF Gender
Promotion Initiative (GPI) to the tune of US $1 million and
implemented by Civil Society organizations. The counterpart
in government will be the recent re-established Ministry of
Family, Women and Children.
Institute, was sponsored by the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for
International Security & Diplomacy of the University of
Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. The
symposium featured discussions on a number of case studies,
which are part of a two-year research project and policy
dialogue, focusing on how international actors can promote
social cohesion.
On 25 October, Mr. Brinkman was a panelist at a side event on
"Durable Solutions to displacement: Development and
peacebuilding dimensions", organized by the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, which featured a
presentation of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of
internally displaced people of his report to the Third
Committee.
Ms. Cecile Mazzacurati, Policy Officer for Youth and Gender,
participated in a policy workshop focusing on legitimacy and
peace processes, as part of Conciliation Resources’ 25th
Accord project. The workshop, which took place in London
on 30 October, was an opportunity for Conciliation Resources
to reflect with policymakers and practitioners on emerging
findings from our forthcoming 25th Accord publication (out in
February 2014), which explores some practical ways that
legitimacy can help build more sustainable peace.
On 30 October, Mr. Brinkman briefed a meeting of the Core
Group of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and
Development at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the
United Nations on the consultations on conflict, violence and
disasters for the post-2015 development agenda.
***
PBF supporting national political dialogue in Yemen
On 25 September, PBSO approved two IRF projects in
support of the national dialogue process, led by Mr. Jamal
Benomar, the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General in
Yemen. The first project approved with a funding allocation
of US $1 million is a joint OSASG/UNFPA/UN Women
project to support “Youth and Women participation to the
National Dialogue process”. The other PBF funded project,
also with an allocation of US $1 million, aims to help
Liberian police in brand new uniforms as part of support to the Burundian
police.
For more updates, click on
Recent Publications
Previous PBSO Insiders
address land grievances in the South. The profile of this
project was elevated to critical following the empowerment
of recently established Land and Civil Rights Commissions
to help address land disputes in the South of the country.
Partnerships
Press Room
***
This funding decision comes after PBSO agreed on 22 July
to make available a support package of up to US $5 million
from the PBF’s IRF in order to support critical activities that
need to be initiated in the pre-electoral period. While the US
$16.8 million earlier allocated under the PBF Priority Plan
remains suspended, the unfreezing of PBF support follows
efforts by the transition leadership in Guinea-Bissau to work
towards normalcy in the country. In addition, PBSO lifted
the suspension on the project “Quick and Multi-level Impact
for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Improving of
Working Conditions”, funded under the PBF Gender
Promotion Initiative (GPI) to the tune of US $1 million and
implemented by Civil Society organizations. The counterpart
in government will be the recent re-established Ministry of
Family, Women and Children.
The Peacebuilding-Community of Practice (CoP), hosted by the UN
Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), currently unites over 800
peacebuilding practitioners from 65 countries and 40 UN
departments and agencies. PBSO is strengthening the PB-CoP and
expanding its reach, including through reaching out to
practitioners, policymakers and academics. To subscribe, please
email pbcop@ groups.un- network.org with “subscribe” in the
subject line and include your name, organization and duty station in
the email message.
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