The high-level Replenishment Conference for the Peacebuilding Fund

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Co-chairs, Secretary-General, Excellencies

The world today is facing complex challenges, and these are being exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Addressing issues of fragility will require a concerted international effort led by the United Nations.

While the reforms we have agreed on during the last few years have better equipped the UN for this purpose, we still have a long way to go.

The Peacebuilding Fund embodies the letter and spirit of the reforms, and is an essential tool for advancing and sustaining peace for vulnerable communities.

The fund has shown itself to be agile, catalytic and risk-tolerant, and has encouraged cooperation within the UN’s country teams. It’s precisely what we need to see more of in a UN setting.

It has over-performed on several indicators that are key policy priorities for Norway.

We applaud the PBF for allocating 40 per cent of its investments to women’s rights and participation in peacebuilding.

We are pleased that the fund actively seeks to address the root causes of conflict, including those related to climate change, that it prioritises vulnerable regions such as the Sahel, and that it seeks to ensure national ownership of the projects implemented.

Norway has been one of the most consistent contributors to the fund since it was created in 2005. We have answered the call for more predictable support by committing NOK 500 million (or USD 58 million USD) over five years. The first instalment was transferred last month.

We are delighted that more countries are recognising the value of the fund and are pledging new commitments today. An increasingly broad, predictable and flexible funding base is critical if the PBF is to continue to expand its work to bring about sustainable peace in the world’s most vulnerable regions.

As a member of the Security Council, Norway will give high priority to promoting preventive diplomacy and sustainable peace. In addition to our continued support to the Peacebuilding Fund, we will use our membership in the Peacebuilding Commission to create synergies between the work of the Commission and the Security Council, and thus help to ensure that peacebuilding becomes an integrated part of the Council’s work.

We will work to ensure that a more joined-up approach at UN headquarters in New York is effectively transformed into results on the ground.

Investing in peace is cost-effective and it provides dividends for the entire global community.

Let us join efforts by acting today, so we can prevent the crises of tomorrow.

Thank you.