Annual Strategic Dialogue on the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund
Statement by H.E. Ms. Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
18 March 2028
Thank you Chair,
This year marks two decades of the Peacebuilding Fund’s (PBF) work.
In that time, the Fund has grown from supporting two countries – Burundi and Sierra Leone – to assisting more than 60 countries – almost one-third of the UN’s membership.
Few UN instruments have demonstrated this level of reach, adaptability, and impact.
It is a remarkable achievement.
But the context in which the PBF operates has changed dramatically.
The UN is confronting shrinking resources, eroding trust, and conflicts that are becoming more complex and protracted.
In this environment, the PBF’s value lies in its ability to do what other mechanisms cannot: deploy quickly, take calculated risks, and target catalytic interventions.
These comparative advantages must remain at the centre of its work.
Funding should be prioritised by where it can deliver the most impact on the ground – where it can prevent violence, build confidence, and unlock longer-term, sustainable financing.
Papua New Guinea offers a clear example of what this looks like in practice.
Last year, the PBF supported Papua New Guinea’s Government, working in partnership with the World Bank, to develop its National Prevention Strategy.
This demonstrates how the PBF can practically support national prevention strategies, as mandated by the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review.
It also shows the Fund’s catalytic potential, creating the conditions needed to unlock more sustainable financing, including from International Financial Institutions.
In a resource-constrained world, Australia believes the “PNG model” should be replicated across contexts, where conditions allow.
We welcome the PBF’s sustained support to PNG, including through the proposed use of assessed contributions in 2027.
Chair,
Looking ahead, Australia looks forward to the outcome of the PBF’s Strategy Evaluation and to contributing to the next Strategy (2027-2030).
We encourage the new Strategy to reflect the priorities identified by Member States in the Peacebuilding Architecture Review, including to:
- support countries preparing for, or undergoing, transitions from peace operations; and
- to support countries to develop and implement national prevention strategies.
We are also keen to understand how the new Strategy will address global headwinds – financial, geopolitical and institutional – that are reshaping peacebuilding needs.
Australia remains a strong supporter of the Peacebuilding Fund and have nearly quadrupled our voluntary contribution for 2026.
We look forward to seeing the Fund continue to deliver impact this year.
Thank you.