25 June ¨C Peacebuilding Commission Annual Session: UN Peacebuilding@20: Partnerships for Innovation, Inclusion and Impact
On 25 June 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held its Annual Session in the General Assembly Hall under the theme ¡°UN Peacebuilding@20: Partnerships for Innovation, Inclusion and Impact.¡± The session marked twenty years of the Â鶹APP peacebuilding architecture,?providing an opportunity to reflect on achievements, challenges and priorities for the future of UN peacebuilding. Opening remarks were delivered by the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, followed by a keynote address by the Â鶹APP Secretary-General, Ant¨®nio Guterres. The session also featured remarks by Ms. Leonor Zalabata Torres, President of the Security Council; H.E. Mr. Bernardo Ar¨¦valo, President of Guatemala; Ms. Sara Beysolow-Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia; Ms. Sandra Paul¨¦mon, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation of Haiti; and Mr. Macharia Kamau, Chair of the Advisory Group of the Peacebuilding Fund.
Participants reaffirmed the centrality of nationally owned partnerships in peacebuilding and sustaining peace.?The interactive panel brought together diverse voices, from IFIs, private sector, CSOs and the youth, to reflect on the achievements, challenges and future of UN peacebuilding, with an emphasis on innovation, inclusion, impact and stronger partnerships. The meeting concluded with interventions from Member States, who reflected on the PBC¡¯s work and shared national experiences, priorities and objectives in support of peacebuilding.
Watch the full meeting .
25 June ¨C General Assembly Annual Debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace
On 25 June 2026, the General Assembly held its annual plenary debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace in the General Assembly Hall. The debate considered the Secretary-General's report on the Peacebuilding Fund and the 2025 Annual Report of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). The former Chair of the PBC, the Permanent Representative of Germany, presented the Commission¡¯s 2025 Annual Report, while the current Chair of the PBC, the Permanent Representative of Morocco, shared highlights of the Commission¡¯s activities in 2026 to date. The debate took place as the Commission marks twenty years since its establishment and in the context of the first-ever Peacebuilding Week.
Member States and briefers reflected on the outcomes of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review and underscored the centrality of nationally owned approaches to peacebuilding and sustaining peace. They highlighted the Commission¡¯s advisory, bridging and convening roles, including its ability to bring together Member States, the Â鶹APP system, international financial institutions, regional and subregional organizations, civil society and other partners in support of nationally defined priorities. Speakers also welcomed the Commission¡¯s inclusive engagement on women, peace and security and youth, peace and security, and called for sustained and predictable financing for peacebuilding, including through stronger engagement with international financial institutions, the private sector and other partners.
Watch the full meeting .
22 June ¨C ECOSOC and PBC: Annual Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission
On 22 June 2026, the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, convened the annual joint meeting of ECOSOC and the PBC on the theme?¡°From Risk to Resilience: Advancing Social Cohesion Through Job Creation in Peacebuilding Contexts.¡±?The meeting marked the opening of the inaugural Peacebuilding Week and?aimed to?exchange experiences and?identify?good practices for linking employment generation with peacebuilding outcomes. ?The discussion featured contributions from?Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support;?Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the Â鶹APP of the International?Labour?Organization (ILO); Ms. Maria Dimitriadou, Special Representative to the Â鶹APP and Head of Multilateral Affairs of the World Bank; Mr. Roland Fomundam, Founder and CEO of?GreenHouse?Ventures Ltd.; and Ms. Genevieve Riccoboni, Program Coordinator at the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).? ?
Member States emphasized that decent work is both a peacebuilding and prevention tool. They highlighted how economic exclusion, youth unemployment, and limited livelihood opportunities can fuel instability, while inclusive employment can strengthen social cohesion, trust, and resilience. The importance of conflict-sensitive, locally owned approaches that prioritize women, youth, and other marginalized groups were stressed, as well as the role of MSMEs in driving local economic development and job creation. The session also underscored the need for predictable and sustained financing, stronger partnerships across the Â鶹APP system, international financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society, and the catalytic role of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in supporting initiatives that link livelihoods, economic recovery, and peacebuilding.
Watch the full meeting .
12 June - PBC: Ambassadorial-level Meeting on S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe
On 12 June 2026,?the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an Ambassadorial-level meeting on S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe¡¯s implementation of its National Conflict Prevention Strategy (2025¨C2029). Briefings were provided by Hon. Vera Maria Cravid, Minister of Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Women¡¯s Rights of S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe; Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Officer-in-Charge of the Â鶹APP Regional Office for Central Africa, General Marcel Mapangou Moussadji the Commissioner for Peace and Security- Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS);? Nadia Bragan?a of the Association of Women Jurists and ASG Elizabeth Spehar. Participants discussed ongoing justice and security sector reforms to strengthen institutions in the lead-up to elections. The PBC welcomed S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe¡¯s pioneering role as the first country to present its National Conflict Prevention Strategy to the Commission and to return for an update.
Watch full meeting
4 June ¨C PBC: Expert-level Debrief on the Liberia Configuration Visit (1¨C5 May 2026)
On?4 June 2026, the Â鶹APP Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an expert-level debrief on the recent visit of the Liberia Configuration from 1 to 5 May 2026. Briefings were provided by Sweden as Chair of the Liberia Configuration, along with Morocco and Liberia, who shared observations from the visit and reflected on the country¡¯s ongoing peacebuilding priorities and efforts to sustain peace. The Chair's trip report centered the meeting and the discussions?highlighted the importance of strengthening resilience and supporting long-term national development, including Women Peace and Security and Youth Peace and Security efforts, accountability, and transitional justice. Participants recognized the importance of continued and coordinated support through relevant peacebuilding instruments, including the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund, to help advance nationally owned peacebuilding priorities and ensure predictable financing for ongoing initiatives. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of continued engagement by the Chair, members of the Liberia Configuration, and partners in support of ongoing peacebuilding efforts, highlighting the value of strong partnerships.
19 May ¨C PBC: Expert-level Meeting on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR)
??
?
On 19 May 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) convened an expert-level meeting on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), on contemporary DDR approaches and their contribution to peacebuilding. Briefings from representatives from the Permanent Missions of Colombia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone?underscored the importance of community trust, reconciliation, livelihoods, and inclusive political participation in peacebuilding. Briefers from PBPSO and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund highlighted the growing importance of integrated and prevention-oriented DDR approaches, including strong engagement with civil society, women, youth, and local communities. ?Member States highlighted that DDR is both a political and societal process that requires nationally led, gender-responsive strategies, reliable financing, and context-specific approaches, alongside strengthened collaboration between the Â鶹APP and regional organizations, as well as increased South-South cooperation.
15 May ¨C PBPSO and DHF: Informal retreat of PBC members on implementation of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review?
On 15 May 2026, the UN Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office and the?Dag Hammarskj?ld Foundation (DHF) organized an informal retreat for the members of the?Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to reflect on the implementation of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR), with a focus on strengthening impact, partnerships, and prevention at country level. The retreat featured both ambassadorial- and expert-level sessions. The participants included 30 Permanent Representatives/ Deputy Permanent Representatives/ Ambassadors, the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council, and the?representatives from the World Bank and the Â鶹APP Global Compact Office. Participants?discussed the importance of partnerships for peacebuilding and sustaining peace, ways to enhance the PBC and strengthen its impact, and the work of the peacebuilding architecture in the context of the current geopolitical environment. Participants emphasized the importance of the PBC in support in countries develop national prevention strategies, including through its convening role. The retreat highlighted the interest of member states to shift from discussion to implementation, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, reinforce national ownership, and ensure that the PBAR framework delivers measurable impact at country level.
PBC Liberia Configuration Chair¡¯s Visit 1-5 May
From 1 to 5 May 2026, the Chair of the Liberia Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, H.E. Ms. Nicola Clase, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN, undertook an official visit to Liberia, underscoring continued international support for the country¡¯s nationally owned peacebuilding agenda. The visit provided an opportunity to engage a broad range of stakeholders, including President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and former Presidents George Manneh Weah and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, civil society organizations, national authorities, ministers, diplomatic corps, and the UN Country Team to take stock of Liberia¡¯s steady progress in consolidating peace. Discussions highlighted key priorities, including advancing transitional justice, particularly efforts toward establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court, strengthening inclusive governance, and protecting civic space. Emphasis was also placed on the critical role of education, and on the contributions of women and youth to sustaining peace, including through Liberia¡¯s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security. The delegation visited three Peacebuilding Fund projects focusing on youth empowerment,?substance abuse rehabilitation,?transparency?and?anti-corruption,?as well as civic education and saw the positive impact these were having in country.
View the Chair's Trip Report?
27 April ¨C PBC: Expert-level Meeting on the Chair¡¯s Visit to the Central African Republic and Working Methods
On 27 April 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an expert-level meeting to debrief on the?PBC's?recent visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) on 28 March to 3 April and exchange views on strengthening the Commission¡¯s working methods. The Chair recalled that the visit reaffirmed international support for the implementation of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation and highlighted progress achieved following the peaceful and inclusive 2025 elections. Discussions in-country underscored the continued importance of nationally owned peacebuilding efforts, including support for transitional justice, reintegration initiatives, institutional strengthening, and the extension of state authority. Participants to the visit also emphasized the central role of MINUSCA and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in supporting stabilization, electoral processes, community reconciliation, and youth and women¡¯s participation in peacebuilding. During the debrief, PBC Member States further highlighted the importance of strengthened coordination among the Â鶹APP system, international financial institutions, regional actors, and national authorities to sustain peacebuilding gains and advance the country¡¯s transition from stabilization to long-term development. In the second part of the meeting, Member States exchanged views on improving the PBC¡¯s working methods to enhance the predictability, inclusivity, and effectiveness of the Commission¡¯s work. Discussions focused on proposals for a more structured calendar of meetings, longer lead times for preparations, strengthened follow-up mechanisms after field visits, and greater engagement with women- and youth-led civil society organizations. Participants also highlighted the importance of substantive preparation, improved coordination within the Bureau, and flexible approaches that support more interactive and outcome-oriented discussions.
21 April - PBC Ambassadorial-level Meeting on The Gambia
On?21 April 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an Ambassadorial-level meeting?on The Gambia¡¯s development of a National Strategy on Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding. The meeting featured briefings by Hon. Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney General and the Minister of Justice of The Gambia, UN Resident Coordinator?Karl-Fr¨¦d¨¦rick Paul, Ms. Awa Dabo, Director and Deputy Head of the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office, and Mr. Emmanuel Joof, Chair of the National Human Rights Commission.?The discussion focused on The Gambia¡¯s continued progress in advancing transitional justice since its democratic transition, including implementation of the?Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) recommendations, the appointment of a Special Prosecutor, progress on reparations, and the development of a new national strategy to translate?existing commitments into tangible outcomes for victims and communities.?During his briefing, the?Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia emphasized the importance of sustained political?accompaniment, predictable financing, and inclusive?participation¡ªparticularly?by women, youth, victims, and civil society¡ªas?essential to advancing accountability, reconciliation, and?guarantees?of non-recurrence.?Member States welcomed The Gambia¡¯s nationally led efforts and emphasized the value of continued international support for the consolidation of peace and?democratic governance.??
Watch the full meeting?.
Read the Chair's Summary.?
20 April - PBC Bureau Meeting with World Bank Executive Directors
On?20?April 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission¡¯s?(PBC)?Chair and Vice Chairs met with?the World Bank Executive Directors,?led by Co-Dean of the Board of Executive Directors, Ms. Zainab Ahmed,?marking the latest in a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening UN-World Bank collaboration in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The discussion underscored the interdependent nature of peace and development, noting that sustainable development is unattainable in the absence of peace, while effective peacebuilding depends on long-term development investment. During her briefing, Ms. Awa Dabo, Director/Deputy Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office,?highlighted?ongoing efforts to deepen UN-World Bank collaboration, including support to the Bank's Fragility, Conflict, and Violence?(FCV)?strategy refresh and strengthened country-level partnerships through the?Resident Coordinator System. Both the PBC Bureau and?Executive Directors reflected on the importance of more systematic country-level cooperation, including in support of nationally led prevention strategies. The experiences in the Central African Republic and Mauritania were used as good examples?showcasing?closer peacebuilding cooperation between the UN and the World Bank. The meeting also?provided?an opportunity to highlight the priorities set out in the Peacebuilding Architecture Review resolutions, and to encourage further World Bank engagement with the PBC, including during the upcoming Peacebuilding Week in June.?
PBC Visits Central African Republic 28 March-3 April
From 28 March to 3 April, Assistant Secretary-General Elizabeth Spehar visited the Central African Republic together with the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Omar Hilale, and representatives of Bangladesh, Colombia, France and Germany. The delegation met with President Touad¨¦ra, senior government officials, MINUSCA leadership, international partners, and representatives of civil society, including women and youth. The visit offered insights into progress in the electoral process, implementation of the peace agreement, transitional justice and community-level peacebuilding. In Bouar, projects supported by the Peacebuilding Fund demonstrated support for returnees in resolving land disputes, accessing civil documentation and rebuilding relations with host communities, alongside youth initiatives promoting dialogue and social cohesion. The visit also highlighted the critical role of MINUSCA and the Peacebuilding Fund in supporting stability and a long-term peacebuilding approach to consolidate progress.
View the Chair's Trip Report
26 March - PBC Expert-level Meeting on PBAR Implementation
On 26 March, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an expert-level meeting on the implementation of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review?(PBAR) to have?an initial?conversation on ways in which the Commission can track the implementation of the GA and Security Council PBAR resolutions. During the meeting, Member States reiterated the centrality of, inter alia, nationally?led prevention and peacebuilding strategies, of the convening role of the PBC, and the importance of partnerships and financing. They supported the idea of?utilizing?the PBC as a space to?monitor?implementation and called for a clear roadmap for continued engagement.?
18 March - PBC Ambassadorial-level Meeting on the 2nd Annual Interactive Dialogue with the Secretary-General's PBF
On 18 March 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held its Second Annual Interactive Strategic Dialogue with the Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). In her briefing, the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Peacebuilding and Peace Support, Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, underscored that peacebuilding is most effective and durable when led by countries and their local communities. She emphasized the PBF¡¯s continued role in providing agile, catalytic support that enables national priorities to move from concept to implementation. ASG Spehar also highlighted the complementary relationship between the PBC and the PBF, noting that while the Fund helps demonstrate what is possible through timely investment, the Commission sustains political attention, mobilizes partnerships, and helps build longer-term support for peacebuilding efforts. Briefings from Member States that are recipients of the PBF enriched the discussion, with Deputy Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Ms. Jocelyne Kabengele Lukundula, and Charg¨¦ d¡¯Affaires of Sierra Leone, H.E. Mr. Kalilu Ibrahim Totangi, sharing reflections on their countries¡¯ engagement with the PBF and the impact of the projects on their broader peacebuilding efforts. Remarks from the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Ms. Seraphine Wakana, further grounded the exchange on country-level UN engagement in aligning financing with nationally led peacebuilding strategies. Several Member States participated in the discussion; key areas of focus for the PBF included the impactful use of assessed contributions against addressing root causes of conflict, enhancing coherence with the PBC, national ownership, and strengthening partnerships with IFIs to further mobilize to invest in peacebuilding finance. This important dialogue underscores the value of stronger linkages between the PBC and the PBF as the Fund advances its 2026 programme plan, draws lessons from the implementation of assessed contributions, and prepares its next strategic cycle.
Watch the full meeting?.
Read the Chair's Summary.
11 March - PBC Expert-level Meeting on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) during the Commission on the Status of Women
On 11 March,?the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)?convened?an expert-level meeting on Women,?Peace?and Security (WPS) on the margins of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), in collaboration with UN Women. The meeting?provided?an opportunity to highlight the importance of women's and girl's full, equal, and meaningful participation in peacebuilding and sustaining peace, including in relation to justice and gender equality. PBC Members were briefed by Ms. Tatyana?Jiteneva?UN Women representative, the Chair of Innovative Solutions NGO, Ms. Anara Niyazova (Kyrgyzstan), Ms. Lantana Abdullahi Bako National Co-Coordinator of the Nigerian Women Mediators Network and leader of the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative, (Nigeria), and Ms. Susana Mej¨ªa Gonz¨¢lez, National Coordinator of the Red Nacional de Mujeres, (Colombia). The speakers shared their experiences as women peacebuilders at the community, national, regional, and global?levels?and the persistent challenges to their work, including shrinking operational realities and funding as well as under-developed early-warning mechanisms. They also underscored the criticality of women¡¯s participation in high?level mediation and other formal decision?making spaces.?
12 February - Expert-level Meeting on the Annual Programme of Work (PoW)
On 12 February,?the Peacebuilding Commission?convened?an expert-level meeting to review the zero draft 2026 Annual?Programme?of Work (PoW). Discussions emphasized a shift in focus from planning meetings to a more implementation-oriented and concrete follow-up to ensure PBC engagements produce practical outcomes.?Member states welcomed the PoW's aim to expand the Commission's geographical scope to keep the agenda responsive to a wider range of countries and regional needs.?Key priorities included integrating Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) to advance inclusive peacebuilding and thematic engagements on the rule of law and DDR/SSR, given their relevance to institutional resilience and peacebuilding. Member states also stressed the importance of?grounding?thematic discussions in specific countries or regional situations while prioritizing national ownership and nationally led strategies.?
29 January - PBC Ambassadorial-level Formal Meeting of the Organizational Committee
On 29 January 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission adopted the report on its 19th session and electing Morocco as Chair of the Commission of the 20th session. The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, briefed the Commission and stressed the importance of stronger GA¨CPBC cooperation, alignment with the UN80 reform agenda to enhance peacebuilding financing and impact, and ensuring inclusion in all efforts. Delivering remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General, Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray emphasized prevention, renewed multilateral cooperation, and support for nationally led priorities. Member States congratulated Morocco on its election as Chair and recommended the Commission prioritize implementation of the recently adopted review of the Peacebuilding Architecture.
Watch the full meeting .?
27 January - PBC Expert-level Meeting on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
On 27 January 2026, the Peacebuilding Commission?convened?an expert-level meeting on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to discuss the profound impact of MHPSS on broader peacebuilding efforts. The significance of MHPSS gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the integration of its components into various peacebuilding projects. The meeting was?initiated?by El Salvador, Colombia, Sierra Leone, and the Netherlands, and highlighted the importance of learning from diverse national contexts and sharing best practices, emphasizing the need for context-specific, nationally owned approaches.
22 January - PBC Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Mauritania
On 22 January, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting on Mauritania. The meeting provided an opportunity to outline Mauritania's plans for implementing the newly adopted national Strategy for Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion.?Abdallahi Suleiman Cheikh?Sidia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, highlighted the strategy¡¯s key pillars and underscored the need to enhance alignment between international?assistance?and Mauritania¡¯s evolving peacebuilding priorities. Briefers included ASG for Africa Martha Pobee; Vice President of the World Bank Ousmane Diagana; Vice President of the Association of Women Heads of Households Aminata?Couro?Ly, speaking on behalf of civil society; and UN Resident Coordinator Lila Pieters Yahia.?
Watch the full meeting .
View the Chair's Summary here.
12 January - PBC Expert-level Meeting on the Annual Report
On 12 January 2026, the Â鶹APP¡¯ Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an expert-level meeting to discuss the upcoming Annual Report, covering the period from 1 January to 31 December of the preceding year. Some consideration was given on how to improve the efficacy of the report in the future. With the recent adoption of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR), the PBC highlighted that it was a timely opportunity to shift how activities are reported. A significant point raised was the necessity for a greater focus on impact to truly demonstrate the value of the PBC to the broader multilateral system. Reaching a consensus, the experts expressed interest in addressing the report format for future cycles.