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UN deputy chief calls for more funding for Peacebuilding Fund

Xinhua, June 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Wednesday called for more funding for the Peacebuilding Fund in order for it to play a bigger role in conflict prevention and peace building.

Post-conflict countries face simultaneous challenges on nearly every front: economic, social, cultural and political. Their leaders do not have the luxury of time, said Eliasson at the annual stakeholder meeting for the Peacebuilding Fund.

"They need to create economic opportunities, to invest in their youth and to unleash the creative social and economic power of their women. They need to set up working governance systems. And they need to do all this under great pressures and expectations, taking advantage of critical windows to consolidate peace," said Eliasson.

The Peacebuilding Fund is an instrument that has proven its value in addressing these challenges, said Eliasson.

However, there is a risk and challenge to the Peacebuilding Fund itself. In 2010, the Secretary-General's Advisory Group endorsed an annual programming target of 100 million U.S. dollars per year. The group has endorsed this target every year since, said Eliasson.

"However and this is serious we are not raising 100 million U.S. dollars per year. And we have used up the reserves from the initial contributions of donors," said Eliasson.

"This means that we are in pressing need of an increase in support. It would be tragic and ironic if, just as the Peacebuilding Fund is finding its feet and role, the rug is pulled out from beneath it," said Eliasson.

"I am fully aware that the world has many calls on its resources. I appreciate that many Member States remain receptive to the growing number of appeals for humanitarian assistance and peace operations," said Eliasson.

"But it is short-sighted to not also be investing in conflict prevention and post-conflict programs. Let us remember that the life of a conflict includes both a pre-conflict and a post- conflict phase," said Eliasson.

"I would like to suggest, therefore, that we open ourselves to finding additional ways to capitalize the Peacebuilding Fund. We need a mechanism to provide predictable, core support for peacebuilding," said Eliasson.

The Peacebuilding Fund is the secretary-general's fund launched in 2006 to support activities, actions, programs and organizations that seek to build a lasting peace in countries emerging from conflict. Endite