By Tamara Johnson
20 July 2012
On 12 July 2012, The Security Council (SC) met with representatives of the World Bank and the Chair and former Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to debate the PBC’s efficacy and relevance. SC President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Her Excellency María Angela Holguín, convened the debate pursuant to the Report of the Peacebuilding Commission on its fifth session (S/2012/70) and a Note Verbale dated 2 July 2012 from the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/2012/511).
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commenced the debate citing three areas of necessary PBC improvement: better leveraging of resources and coordination between UN bodies, state parties, and parties on the ground; longer-term focus beyond the present on-the-ground missions; and leveraging of intergovernmental and regional support. The Secretary-General concluded that synergistic partnerships would lead to the amplification of participating bodies’ effectiveness on the ground and increased efficiency.
H.E. Mr. Eugène-Richard Gasana, former Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission and Permanent Representative of Rwanda, focused on three elements of the report of the PBC on its fifth session. First, PBC engagement with the African Development and World Banks is helpful in aligning and financing the institutions’ agendas and should be further developed. Second, Rwanda and the PBC hosted high-level meetings on the Rwandan peacebuilding experience in order to share instructive lessons (which, it was noted, is important for other agenda countries to also do). Third, the PBC ought to strengthen its partnership with the UN. Mr. Gasana recommended that a linkage be increased between the PBC and SC, potentially by involving PBC representatives in pertinent SC meetings. Furthermore, the PBC required more clarity from the SC regarding the latter’s expectations of the PBC, which could be provided through more PBC-SC interactions. Mr. Gasana also suggested that the PBC strengthen its relationship with ECOSOC to further develop capacity in the socioeconomic aspects of peacebuilding. Finally, the PBC has potential to become the central configuration for peacebuilding and post-conflict institution building, but it needs more political commitment from member states and the UN.
H.E. Mr. Abulkalam Abdul Momen, PBC Chair and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, called for increased commitment to the PBC from intergovernmental bodies. He stressed that the PBC was conceived around the imperative of ensuring commitment from members, militaries, police, donors, etc. to leverage the political, technical, and financial capabilities of all parties to the benefit of post-conflict countries. Mr. Kalam proposed four ways of rendering the PBC more effective. First, relations between the SC and country specific configurations should be institutionalized, which is especially important during times of mandate and resolution review. Second, the PBC requires better clarity on the division of roles in UN field operations. Third, the SC should consider the PBC’s advice extremely relevant while considering transitions between types of assistance. Finally, there is a need for periodic sharing of information between the PBC and SC regarding country specific issues, as well as on thematic and regional issues such as transnational crime.
Joachim von Amsberg, Vice-President and Head of Network Operations, Policy and Country Services of the World Bank, pointed out that the absence of institutions to provide stability, justice, and employment in post-conflict areas sharply curtails development potential in post-conflict countries. As such, the PBC should advise on institution building in its agenda countries. He said that new financing mechanisms to support peacebuilding efforts were underway, including a pilot fund to work in conjunction with the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund. He also noted that more technical specialists should be deployed for longer periods on the ground for enhanced information sharing and capacity building. Mr. Von Amsberg added that there are too many category divisions in the international aid structure (development, peacebuilding, humanitarian, etc.) and that the PBC helps to cohere various aid strategies. He said the World Bank is aligning strategies and complementarities with the PBC at country and thematic levels for more effective collaboration. Finally, there will be a Fiduciary Mechanisms Review to address operational challenges.
Many country representatives then held the floor, from the United Sates, Togo, the Russian Federation, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, China, Portugal, South Africa, Morocco, Guatemala, India, France, Germany, Brazil, Luxembourg, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Burundi, Liberia, Chile, Belgium, Croatia, Australia, Tunisia (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Ireland, New Zealand, Malaysia, Armenia, Indonesia, Norway, Egypt, Nigeria, South Sudan, Nepal, Argentina, the Sudan, and the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. The following summarizes.
The PBC’s coordination role should be leveraged to increase links and efficiency in the crowded aid field. This is especially important because so many overlapping aid missions overburden host countries and handle aid allocations inefficiently.
Peacebuilding efforts need to be systematically inclusive of women and youth.
Country ownership of peacebuilding processes is paramount. The PBC must provide support in priority areas decided by agenda countries. Countries on PBC agenda, though, should be more proactive in establishing and leading dialogues with the PBC. Agenda countries, with PBC assistance, need to be more accountable regarding assurances of and institutions for national reconciliation, rule of law, human rights, etc.
The PBC must perform more fieldwork. Its anchorage in New York reduces its effectiveness. Actors on the ground sometimes feel disregarded and “reported on,” which should be addressed through increased field operations in cooperation with local actors and inclusive network building.
Civilian capacity building is a crucial element of post-conflict peacebuilding and development.
The PBC should be more open to civil society and private sector contributions of expertise.
Sustainability and predictability of funding is crucial. Increased cooperation with regional bodies and banks such as the Islamic Bank, as well as PBC-coordinated South-South Cooperation would enhance the PBC’s visibility and impact.
Country Configuration Chairs should be invited to closed SC meetings, particularly meetings related to a given configuration’s focus, and there should be increased informal interaction between the PBC and SC.
Eligibility for the position of Country Specific Configuration Chair should be extended to non-permanent member representatives.
The PBC needs an improved communications strategy (such as issuing frequent reports through the UN Secretariat) to raise awareness of its mandate and activities and to garner more support.