23 February 2016: The UN Security Council discussed the report of the Advisory Group of Experts on the 2015 Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, with members calling for a greater focus on preventing the outbreak of conflict, noting that prevention could save billions of dollars in post-conflict humanitarian aid. The preparation of the report, which was released in June 2015, was the first stage of the review process. The second stage is intergovernmental examination of the report.

The Advisory Group consisted of seven independent experts tasked with studying the work of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), the Peacebuilding Fund, and the Peacebuilding Support Office, intergovernmental entities that were created in 2005 and which report to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Addressing the Council on 23 February 2016, in New York, US, Advisory Group Chair Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala) introduced the report, titled ‘The Challenge of Sustaining Peace.’ Citing its findings, Rosenthal called for broadening the idea of peacebuilding, beyond a conception of it being solely a post-conflict activity, “something to be undertaken when the guns fall silent.” He favored shifting the emphasis to preventive action, and using the term “sustainable peace” with reference to this broader range of activity. He added that discussions about peacebuilding center too much on the institutional and organizational aspects in New York, whereas building sustainable peace can only happen on the ground, and that reconciliation, capacity-building, institution-building and strategic planning can only be led by domestic stakeholders, through inclusive national ownership.

Former PBC Chair Olaf Skoog (Sweden) called for moving conflict prevention to the center of the Commission’s work, while current Chair Macharia Kamau (Kenya) said the Commission needs stronger partnerships with regional and subregional bodies and international financial institutions, in order to build peace. He added that predictability and sustainability of financing through the Peacebuilding Fund should be enhanced.

The US said the primary challenge is not necessarily the absence of resources, and urged UN entities to work in a more coordinated fashion, with the PBC acting as a bridge. Many other countries also took part in the debate.

Consultations are ongoing to draft a joint UNGA-Security Council resolution on the report of the Advisory Council.

In a high-level thematic debate on peace and security, on 10-11 May 2016, the UNGA is expected to explore findings of the recent reviews on the UN peacebuilding architecture, UN peace operations, and women, peace and security, and spur the translation of these review processes into concrete conclusions. UNGA President Mogens Lykketoft has announced that a series of regional workshops and expert meetings will take place in preparation for the event, including in Europe (Brussels and Geneva), Africa (Cairo, Addis Ababa, Monrovia and Accra), Latin America (Brasilia), Asia (Shanghai), and North America (New York). [UN Press Release] [Meeting Summary] [Publication: The Challenge of Sustaining Peace: Report of the Advisory Group of Experts for the 2015 Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture] [2015 Review Documents] [Advisory Group Members] [PBC Website] [UNGA President Briefing] [ReliefWeb Update]