The Together for a Better Peace project advocates for improved peacebuilding policy and practice by supporting meaningful engagement between civil society and the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

The Peacebuilding Commission

Following on the commitment of leaders at the 2005 World Summit to improve conflict prevention and recovery efforts at the UN, the General Assembly and Security Council co-created the UN Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office. This new architecture was welcomed as one of the most innovative proposals in the reform process and remains one of the most successful initiatives to emerge from the World Summit.

The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) constitutes the foundation of the UN’s peacebuilding architecture and brings together international actors from within and outside the UN system to support countries emerging from violent conflict. As an intergovernmental advisory body, the PBC works with countries on its agenda to improve coordination and marshal resources for peacebuilding. The PBC invites participation from relevant stakeholders, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, other institutional donors and regional organizations. Through the principles of national ownership, mutual accountability and shared responsibility, the PBC and national governments develop country-level frameworks that outline the commitments of the government and the international community to meeting peacebuilding goals. Together, the PBC and national governments seek to use these frameworks to ensure sufficient and sustained support from the international community for countries transitioning from fragile peace to sustainable development.

People Together for a Better Peace

We believe that civil society is a key stakeholder in peacebuilding. Whether as implementing partners in humanitarian and development programs or advocates for human rights and the rule of law, NGOs represent an essential cross-section of society as the primary agents and beneficiaries of peace.

The centrality of a vibrant civil society to a peaceful community has been affirmed time and again by UN secretaries-general, policy makers and local populations. Just before world leaders convened for the World Summit in September 2005, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) held the first ever civil society organized conference at the UN to present the Global Action Agenda for the Prevention of Violent Conflict. The Global Action Agenda called for a number of reforms to end the cycle of violent conflict, including expressing support for the establishment of a UN peacebuilding architecture.

As a member of the GPPAC network and active participant in the global conference, IGP contributed to efforts to inform the world about the contributions of civil society to conflict prevention and peacebuilding. IGP and GPPAC continue as partners today advocating for the active role of civil society in the work of the PBC. Through the GPPAC network, IGP coordinates with local civil society partners in countries on the PBC agenda to ensure that their voices are heard in the peacebuilding process. We share information about the PBC’s work and facilitate the participation of civil society in official meetings and consultations of the PBC. Together, we are building a better peace.

Get Involved

Learn more about the Together for a Better Peace project at www.BetterPeace.org. We invite individuals and organizations to stay informed about the PBC and other peacebuilding initiatives at the UN through our information and news service PBC Update. We also encourage practitioners from around the world to contribute to our efforts to ensure that the PBC has access to the most up-to-date information on peacebuilding in countries on its agenda and emerging best-practices in building peace.