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Everyday Peacebuilders

20 Years of Peacebuilding, 20 Stories of Impact

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Every day, people everywhere—teachers, farmers, police officers, volunteers, and human rights activists—are helping to rebuild their communities from the ground up in the aftermath of conflict and crisis. They work to improve lives, prevent the recurrence of violence, and secure lasting peace.

The Âé¶¹APP is a proud champion of these local peacebuilders. Since its inception in 2006, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund—fueled by the generosity of Member States and working alongside UN agencies and local partners—has invested over $2 billion in conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives, responding to the national priorities of more than 75 countries and territories.

The financial commitment to UN Peacebuilding is only a fraction of what the world spends on its militaries every year, yet the returns are invaluable. Whether fostering reconciliation among communities in Papua New Guinea, ensuring human rights are observed during elections in Liberia, empowering women to transform justice in Colombia, or rebuilding trust among young people in the Balkans, peacebuilding empowers communities to lay the groundwork for stability—brick by brick, solution by solution. It is driven by the conviction that lasting peace is only possible when communities thrive.

As the Peacebuilding Fund marks its 20th anniversary during the first-ever Peacebuilding Week, we celebrate the extraordinary courage of the world’s everyday peacebuilders and the partners working alongside them.

Here are some of their stories.Ìý

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A community leader delivering a speech at the peace agreement signing ceremony in Sugu Valley.
A journey of reconciliation in Papua New Guinea's Sugu Valley
DATE | SUMMARY | CREDIT
How young people are rewriting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future
Representatives of local human rights organizations. Credit: Caroline Trutmann
Reforming justice in Guatemala
A Youth Council President Northern Macedonia. Credit: Igor Josifoski
Youth rebuilding trust in the Western Balkans
Vian mirza
The untold stories of resilience in Iraq
Indigenous women shaping peace in Peru
Herders walking alongside the rehabilitated Matar pond. Credit: Oundoum Cynthia
Strengthening peaceful coexistence in Chad
The Women Peace Facilitators of Bangsamoro in the Philippines.
Fostering lasting peace in the Philippines
Literacy and tech skills training for South Sudanese women security personnel. Credit: UNESCO
Women on the forefront of South Sudan’s security sector
A Garifuna leader in Honduras shows how ancestral territories were divided.
Empowering Honduras’ Garifuna communities
The aerial view of Nui, Tuvalu, impacted by climate change.
Securing climate resilience in the Pacific Islands
OHCHR and partners during the 2023 elections. Credit: OHCHR Liberia
Liberia’s journey towards stability
Youth leaders participating in a bootcamp.
How Madagascar’s youth turned crisis into change
Photo credit: UNDP Sudan. | Khawla, a Youth Peace Ambassador in Kassala, leads awareness sessions in public spaces to promote peace, prevent crime, and empower young people.
How community-led trust is forging solidarity in Sudan
Joint activities such as soccer helped improve relations between Bantu and Twa youth in Tanganyika, DRC.
Uniting communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek communities come together to find climate-smart solutions.
How local action is bridging divides in Kyrgyzstan
Women entrepreneurs fostering stability in Libya
Young people take part in a collaborative game, Play for Peace.
Youth building peace in Somalia
2023 | Sivi Tchossona is the manager of the water point in Bodana, near the Burkina Faso – Cote d’Ivoire border | Credit: UNICEF/Cisse
A bridge for cross-border social cohesion in West Africa
Redefining justice in Colombia