General Assembly Reviews Peacebuilding Progress, Adopts UN80 Initiative to Strengthen United Nation System
The General Assembly today in a joint debate considered the "Report of the Peacebuilding Commission", "Peacebuilding and sustaining peace" and the "Report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund". It also adopted a text on the strengthening of the United Nations system, concerning the establishment of the informal ad hoc working group on the UN80 Initiative.
At the outset, the representative of Brazil, the Commission’s former Chair, outlined its work from January 2024 to January 2025, highlighting several aspects of the year’s session. These included a focus on broadening its geographical scope, holding 17 ambassadorial meetings and expanding its regional and country-specific engagements. "These new engagements underline our readiness to respond to national priorities wherever peacebuilding needs arise," he said, also highlighting support for nationally owned efforts through field visits by the Chair to São Tomé and Príncipe and by the Liberia configuration Chair to Monrovia.
The Commission also continued its thematic work, he said, addressing issues including conflict prevention in Kenya, Norway and Timor-Leste, transitional justice, security sector reform, national strategies for women and youth participation. In addition, it continued to support women empowerment and youth’s role in peacebuilding, in keeping up with the "PBC’s [Peacebuilding Commission’s] Gender Strategy and Action Plan" and its "Strategic Plan on Youth and Peacebuilding". Moreover, it fulfilled its advisory, bridging and convening roles, providing 11 advisories at the request of the Security Council.
The Commission also strengthened partnerships with regional and international stakeholders, he said, highlighting its seventh annual informal consultative meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council, reaffirming the vital role of structured transitions from peacekeeping missions to peacebuilding. It also initiated early preparations for the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, beginning with approving the terms of reference to the Review.
The intergovernmental advisory body was then briefed by Germany’s delegate, current Chair of the Commission, about activities undertaken in the first half of his chairmanship, highlighting deepened country-specific engagements through 2025, through holding ambassadorial-level meetings on Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Colombia and Sao Tome and Principe.
In June, the 2025 annual session marked the twentieth anniversary of the UN peacebuilding architecture, extending participation to all Member States, he went on, noting the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the Gambia and Timor-Leste. In March, a discussion was held with World Bank experts on peacebuilding perspectives, in view of its forthcoming adoption of new strategy on fragility, conflict and violence, he said, noting his visit on 4 September to Washington, D.C., for a strategic exchange on peacebuilding and sustaining peace with the World Bank Group Executive Board.
Outlining other activities, he highlighted the Commission’s first-ever annual strategic dialogue with the Peacebuilding Fund following the adoption of its new terms of reference and the General Assembly’s decision to allocate assessed contributions to the Fund. In addition, his delegation participated in this year’s biannual session on the General Assembly’s High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation, he said. In other matters, he noted its efforts to improve its working methods and strengthen follow up. Looking ahead at its upcoming engagements, he spotlighted its eighth annual consultative meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council, "the cornerstone of its partnership with regional actors".
Prevention Must Be at Core of Peacebuilding Efforts
A representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, stressed that prevention "must be at the core of peacebuilding efforts", pointing to the "robust early warning and conflict analysis methodology" to act before crises escalate. On financing, she warned that "peacebuilding suffers disproportionally from an overall funding gap", underscoring the need for "innovative and efficient ways of working and financing". She also highlighted the Peacebuilding Fund’s "convening power and catalytic capacity", and reaffirmed that "the UN can count on the European Union’s steadfast continued support for peacebuilding and sustaining peace".
Norway’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, said that, while "this year’s debate takes place at a challenging time", it is also "an opportunity to rethink how we best can address peacebuilding". "Every dollar spent on prevention has immense returns," he added, urging investment in "nationally owned peacebuilding efforts and preventive diplomacy". Highlighting that "exclusion is a root cause of conflicts", his group of countries called for the "full, equal and meaningful participation of women and youth" alongside strong civil society engagement.
Guinea’s representative, speaking on behalf of the African Group, noted the "unique platform" provided by the Commission for countries to exchange challenges and highlight best practices in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. He welcomed progress forged during the 2025 session, highlighting the increasing number of countries engaging with the Commission’s work, and called for States to engage with it on a fully voluntary and nationally owned basis in support of national peacebuilding strategies. He also welcomed the Commission’s engagement with country-specific configurations in the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia, encouraging the Chairs to facilitate an inclusive dialogue and monitoring process.
Colombia’s delegate, noting that it is a "critical phase for international peace and security" amidst an alarming rise in armed conflicts and a sustained increase in military expenditure, with consequences falling on the civilian population, underscored the Commission’s crucial role and its ability to galvanize technical and financial support, which is fundamental to sustaining peace. In his country, the Commission has held three meetings with its President and Foreign Affairs Minister, among others, with the dialogue allowing reflection on the progress, challenges and setbacks on the peace process. In addition, he highlighted the launch of the "Colombia to the World" programme, which presented lessons learned and good practice in the interest of international cooperation based on solidarity.
The Russian Federation’s representative highlighted the General Assembly decision to use assessed contributions to fund the Peacebuilding Fund, which partially solved the issue of shrinking resources at a time of waning donor interest. Resources should be disbursed for main national priorities. The provision of international support in keeping with States’ priorities is a key determinant of the success of peacebuilding efforts, she noted, warning against any attempts to interfere in sovereign decisions.
"Peace is not a given," said the delegate from the United Kingdom, echoing other speakers in noting this year’s reviews offer "a unique opportunity to rejuvenate the UN’s approach to peacebuilding". Highlighting the Commission’s role in aligning support, including in Liberia and Sao Tome and Principe, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its long-standing support for the Peacebuilding Fund, praising its "targeted, timely and catalytic support".
Indonesia’s speaker also stressed that the peacebuilding architecture review is "a crucial opportunity to transform our commitments into concrete actions". She emphasized that "national ownership must remain at the heart of peacebuilding", with inclusive participation of women and youth to foster social cohesion. She further called for adaptive, tech-driven approaches to better understand realities on the ground and ensure smooth transitions from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.
Development Key to Sustaining Peace
China’s delegate called for a clear understanding of the Commission’s mandate concerning post-conflict countries. "Without development there can be no sustaining peace," he underscored. As well, he underlined the principle of national ownership, through targeted recommendations to support countries and strategies for conflict prevention on a voluntary basis. He also called for the expansion of sources of peacebuilding financing and called on international financial institutions to align financing with the peacebuilding needs of concerned countries.
The representative of the United States said the UN has "drifted from its core mission of peacemaking" and must "return to its principal purpose" of maintaining peace and security. Peacebuilding "must be led and owned by the affected country", with the Peacebuilding Commission serving as a key advisory body and the Peacebuilding Fund supporting prevention, resolution and transitions. He underscored that voluntary contributions should remain the primary source of funding and that "international donors alone cannot prevent conflict without the buy-in of parties". The Peacebuilding Architecture Review is an "important opportunity" to enhance coherence, strengthen partnerships, integrate human rights and keep "national ownership at the centre of conflict prevention and peacebuilding", he said.
The Republic of Korea’s delegate welcomed deeper cooperation with international financial institutions, urging the Commission to "systemize partnerships while maintaining flexibility". She described the Peacebuilding Fund as "a vital instrument" and encouraged more Member States to contribute and share experiences, with Seoul reaffirming its role as "a steadfast supporter". Finally, she emphasized the need to strengthen follow-up, institutional knowledge and use of diverse deliberative formats to reinforce the Commission’s impact.
Strengthening UN System
On another matter, the Commission adopted the text titled "UN80 Initiative: establishment of the informal ad hoc working group" (document A/79/L.119/Rev.1), deciding to establish an informal ad hoc working group of the General Assembly, open to all Member States and observers, to consider in its scope the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General and to identify principles and follow-up actions to improve the creation, delivery and review of mandates. It further requested the President of the General Assembly to appoint two Co-Chairs of the informal ad hoc working group.
Iraq’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China in explanation of vote, noted that the UN80 Initiative is an important step in enhancing the role of the UN in addressing global challenges. Any proposals under the Initiative must respect the Charter of the United Nations; strengthen, not dilute multilateralism; and address the priorities and concerns of developing countries, he added.
In explanation of vote, the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, hailed the UN80 Initiative as "a transformative opportunity" to make the UN stronger, more agile and fit for the future. Supporting the ad hoc working group to ensure mandates are "impact driven and results oriented", he stressed consensus, inclusivity and accountability so the UN remains a "beacon of hope and collective action".
Australia’s representative, also speaking for Canada and New Zealand, in explanation of vote, underscored that the need for meaningful and substantive reform of the UN system "has never been more evident nor more urgent". While the Secretary-General can take many steps to strengthen the Commission’s effectiveness, the primary responsibility for delivering outcomes lies with Member States, particularly concerning Workstream 2, which addresses the unintended consequences of the way Member States create and review mandates to ensure they are impactful over time.