UNITED NATIONS PEACEBUILDING FUND
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Peacebuilding Fund Annual High Level Stakeholders Meeting
Statement by HE Mr Gary Quinlan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Madam Chair
Thank you for convening this meeting, which provides an important opportunity to reflect on the progress of the Peacebuilding Fund over the past year, and the integral role of the Fund in the UN’s broader peacebuilding and post-conflict efforts.
Australia continues its long history of support to the PBF. We were the first donor to commit to the Fund when it was established five years ago and we have provided annual funding since.
Our support for the Fund reflects the importance we attach to assisting those countries facing the urgent challenges of building government and community confidence and capacity, and promoting economic opportunities, following conflict.
More than half of Australia’s aid program – currently around $5 billion - is delivered in fragile and conflict-affected states. We understand the need to provide flexible and timely funding assistance and deployment of resources.
Without such support, countries face the grave risks of falling back into conflict and suffering repeated cycles of violence – a point well articulated in the 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development.
Madam Chair
The Peacebuilding Fund has come a long way since 2006. We commend the steps that are being taken to strengthen the management of the Fund to ensure timely disbursements to meet urgent peacebuilding needs on the ground.
We look forward to the PBSO’s enhanced engagement with a range of national, regional and international partners, including the World Bank, to support high priority, innovative and context-specific programming options in post-conflict settings.
We welcome further improvements to the Fund’s reporting and results framework to demonstrate its impact.
And Australia welcomes the increased attention to the particular needs of youth and women. We are strongly encouraged by the work underway through the Gender Promotion Initiative.
Australia’s most recent contribution of $2 million was paid to the Fund in September – under our current multi-year commitment.
But we know that time is of the essence for countries recovering from conflict. That is why, today, I am pleased to announce that Australia will double its current financial year contribution to the PBF and will provide an additional $2 million to support the Fund’s work over the coming months.
This brings our total support to $9 million to date.
And we look forward to agreeing a new multi-year funding arrangement for the PBF following the completion of Australia’s current review of 42 multilateral agencies and funds to which we provide core funding.
You can be assured of Australia’s continued support for the Peacebuilding Fund.
Thank you.