UN first-ever Peacebuilding Week

This week marks the first-ever Peacebuilding Week at the United Nations, bringing together Member States, UN entities, civil society and practitioners to discuss how peacebuilding efforts can be translated into practical impact on the ground. Many interesting sessions and side events to attend. Here are a few highlights.

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One of the side event, “Building What’s Next: What Enables Greater Practical Peacebuilding Impact?”, focused on a simple but important question: what actually works when it comes to building sustainable peace?

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of national ownership. Representatives from the European Union and Kenya emphasized that peacebuilding cannot be imposed from the outside. Effective institutions, constitutional reforms and locally driven solutions are essential to addressing the root causes of conflict and preventing its recurrence.

Panel participants also stressed the value of prevention. UNDP highlighted that investing early in trusted relationships, inclusive dialogue and local capacities can act as a force multiplier, helping societies address tensions before they escalate into crises. As several speakers noted, prevention cannot be built in the middle of a conflict; it requires long-term engagement.

The discussion also underscored the importance of coordination and dialogue. The UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) pointed to the need to avoid duplication, connect local actors with international partners and strengthen cooperation across the UN system. Civil society organizations were repeatedly identified as indispensable partners because of their close understanding of community needs.

Several country experiences illustrated these broader lessons. Croatia reflected on its post-war recovery, highlighting decades of demining efforts and the continued search for missing persons as foundations for sustainable peace. Syria emphasized the importance of addressing root causes, documenting atrocities and promoting a forward-looking narrative around peacebuilding efforts. Kenya shared lessons from addressing cyclical election-related violence through constitutional reform and early-warning mechanisms linked to early-action mechanisms.

Looking ahead, speakers argued that the next UN Secretary-General will have an opportunity to strengthen peacebuilding by reinforcing the Resident Coordinator system, supporting Peace and Development Advisers, engaging directly with conflict (armed) actors and making the UN’s peacebuilding work more visible.

One final reflection from the discussion resonated strongly: while peacebuilding experiences are never fully transferable from one context to another, humility and principle must go hand in hand. There is no universal formula for peace but there are lessons worth sharing.

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