Excellencies, colleagues, distinguished guests,

It is an honour to address you in my capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this timely and vital debate.

The Peacebuilding Commission currently has 7 members from Africa out of a total of 31 members, and more or less the same number every year. We often have the privilege of receiving briefings directly from peacebuilders from the African continent who consistently stress that sustainable peace requires more than the cessation of hostilities: it requires a comprehensive approach in which peacebuilding and sustaining peace, peacekeeping, development, humanitarian response are in sync with national ownership. Peace neither can be achieved nor sustained by military and technical engagements alone, but through relentless commitment to comprehensive political solutions that respond to the root causes and drivers of conflicts.

I would draw on these perspectives to offer three observations on how we may collectively address the root causes of conflict on the African continent, and how the Peacebuilding Architecture Review and ongoing reflections on the future of peacekeeping can contribute to such efforts.

First, the Pact for the Future highlighted nationally-owned, inclusive conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. In the Peacebuilding Commission, Kenya and São Tomé and Príncipe have recently shared their national conflict prevention and peacebuilding strategies, providing examples of the type of comprehensive political approaches needed to address peace and security challenges. Exchanges of this nature have the added benefit of possibly being a catalyst for increased South-South and Triangular Cooperation among African member states.

As you may know, the PBC and the AU PSC hold annual meetings. Expanded joint activities between the AU Peace and Security Council, the UN Security Council, and the Peacebuilding Commission, can serve as opportunities to strengthen regional capacities, including by the application of Security Council resolution 2719 and can help that peacebuilding efforts and peace operations are responsive to regional, national and local priorities and perspectives.

Second, as we discuss modalities for sustainable and predictable financing for African peace operations, keep in mind the Peacekeeping Operations’ contribution to a comprehensive strategy for sustaining peace. This would be critical for ensuring that AU and UN peace operations are accompanied by comprehensive political strategies. Consider the following: a recent IMF study showed that the rate of return on each dollar invested in conflict prevention could be as high as $103, when factoring in the long-term economic costs of conflict.

The progress we have seen in intensifying the partnership between member states, international financial institutions, and the United Nations peacebuilding architecture is therefore encouraging. Whether through joint programming with the Peacebuilding Fund, regular exchanges in the Peacebuilding Commission, and coordination between peacebuilders, peace operations, and international financial institutions, we have much to build upon. Yet meeting the interlinked challenges to sustainable peace and development will require increasing the scale, scope, and consistency of such partnerships.

The approval of assessed funds for peacebuilding is a welcome development, and we must collectively commit to do more to meet these requests to support peace and ensure sustained accompaniment. Currently, the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund continues to receive more requests from member states than it can fulfill.

Third, ensuring the full, meaningful and equal participation of women in political processes and recognizing the role of youth in peacebuilding efforts are not only encouraged, but are a necessity. Thanks to its unique convening role and flexible format, the Peacebuilding Commission offers a platform for sustained engagement with diverse actors, helping ensure that peacebuilding efforts are part of a broader continuum of support—from conflict prevention to recovery and development — and are not isolated from each other.

Let us take the opportunity of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review to redouble our cooperation to ensure that peace efforts in Africa are coherent, adequately supported, and firmly aligned with national priorities and political solutions.

Thank you.