Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund
Plenary
10 October 2007
Statement by H.E. Ms Frances Lisson, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
(Check against delivery)
Mr President
Australia continues to be a strong supporter of the Peacebuilding Commission. We were a key advocate for the establishment of the Commission during the 2005 UN World Summit. We consider the PBC as a key outcome of the Summit. Australia was also one of the first donors to the Peacebuilding Fund.
The Peacebuilding Commission has a critical role to play in post-conflict countries, supporting and coordinating the peacebuilding work of the UN and the broader international community, in support of countries’ own efforts. The Commission is charged with ensuring that our combined efforts are both strategic and coherent. It is designed to fill a critical gap in the UN architecture.
Mr President
Establishing the Peacebuilding Commission took time, and understandably, a considerable amount of its activities in the first year were focused on administrative matters. We welcome the adoption of provisional rules of procedure and are pleased that preliminary guidelines for the involvement of civil society have been settled. We are also pleased that arrangements are now in place for the participation of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other institutional donors.
While such a focus on administrative matters was necessary, we hope this more formative period is now behind us. The focus of the Peacebuilding Commission must now be more fully on how it can best play its role of supporting countries emerging from conflict to lay the foundation for sustainable development.
Mr President,
Australia welcomes the Secretary-General’s reports on the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund.
In relation to the Peacebuilding Commission, it is positive that the report outlines lessons learned, many of which are focused on how to maximise country ownership and involvement in the post-conflict recovery process. We fully support this focus and welcome the establishment by the Commission of a Working Group on Lessons Learned to accumulate best practices and lessons learned on critical peacebuilding issues.
In relation to the Peacebuilding Fund, we are grateful of the analysis not just of the Fund’s operation, but also of how it can be improved to ensure efficient, quick and accountable disbursement of funds for peacebuilding activities, in line with the guidelines established for the Fund.
The Secretary-General recognises there is further work to be done on strengthening the relevance of integrated peacebuilding strategies and coordination with all relevant actors, including those outside of the UN system. We consider both to be important and support the Secretary-General in these endeavours.
The relationship between the Commission and other intergovernmental bodies, especially the Security Council is critical – good working relationships between all relevant bodies, and close collaboration at times, will be essential to the success of the Commission. Important also is the role of the PBSO and the cooperation of all UN agencies, funds and programs in peacebuilding efforts. We urge continued strengthening of coordination of this level also.
Mr President,
Australia considers a further critical issue for the Peacebuilding Commission is for it to be very clear on the specific value it can add to each country on its agenda. The Commission needs to recognise that its role will be different depending on the specific country needs and the mechanisms, plans and strategies already in place. The Commission must be nimble and responsive to the challenges and needs of each country it considers. An analysis, even after such a relatively short period of operation, on how the Commission is contributing to peacebuilding efforts in Sierra Leone and Burundi would be useful, especially as the Commission begins to consider where it might next focus its attention.
Mr President,
Our hopes and expectations for what the Peacebuilding Commission can deliver are high, as they have been from its conception. We recognise that it is still early days of its operation and that it takes time for any new body to learn and apply lessons, and to refine its processes and strategies. However, given the need that exists for the Commission’s support, the Commission must learn and improve as quickly as possible to ensure that it is delivering maximum results. Australia stands ready to work with the Commission and other Member States to realise this objective.