On 19 May 2020, ACCORD’s Peacebuilding Programme Officer, Ms Nontobeko Gcabashe attended the 2020 virtual Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development session on the 2020 United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture Review, which focused on Country and Regional Perspectives on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace in Practice. This closed partner session was held in partnership with the Life & Peace Institute, the Global Partnerships for the Prevention of Armed Conflict and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. The platform was the prime space for actors to share, learn and reflect on the UN’s role in peacebuilding and sustaining peace as well as to draw reflections from those who have organized regional consultations as part of the UN’s global 2020 Review process. Reflections on good practices, and persistent gaps were addressed with specific recommendations offered by the panel.
Experiences and lessons from Lebanon, Latin America and East Africa highlighted that the agenda on women peace and security remains important for sustainable peace; that the who and what that defines peacebuilding is also important in order to make a difference in communities; that placing local actors at the centre is strategic; and that there is a need to enhance partnerships between the UN and local actors. Comments and contributions from the participants emphasised the need for a coherent, conflict-sensitive analysis and multi-dimensional approach towards sustainable peace; the urgency of national and local ownership and inclusivity; and the need to improve monitoring and evaluation of the results of peacebuilding initiatives.
The roundtable was an important discussion for ACCORD, and peacebuilding stakeholders in general, as it provided the space for institutions to engage on strategic and inclusive dialogues and approaches to practically contribute to sustainable peace; which will inform the upcoming UN Secretary General’s report on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace.
