Norway Written Statement, Ambassadorial-Level Consultation of the Peacebuilding Commission – 2020 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture – “Financing and Partnerships for Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace”, 15 June 2020.

 Norway believes in a strong multilateral system with the UN at its centre.  The United Nations, with its unique mandate for peace and security, development and human rights, must improve its ability to work across all pillars. Addressing systematic human rights violations at an early stage can prevent escalation of violence and conflict. And create a starting point for peaceful and sustainable development. We also need strong partnerships with other international and regional actors, including but not limited to the African Union and sub-regional organizations.  The Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of the UN’s operational activities reaffirms the links between peace and development. Norway would like to see the UN’s activities in crisis-affected countries moving in the direction of “one country – one UN framework” with common objectives, strategic planning and clear distribution of responsibilities.  In order to be sustainable, development and peace must be inclusive. Inclusion is about gender, it is about age, culture, ethnicity, language and religion. It is about recognising the equal rights and dignity of all human beings. Inclusion broadens the base, removes our blind spots, and gives us a stronger foundation on which to build the society we want.  National ownership and leadership is necessary” for development and poverty eradication in any country. This, of course, is also true for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The role of the UN is to support member states in achieving the SDGs.  The litmus test for successful UN reform is a UN that delivers as one at country level, in a results-oriented, coherent, integrated, efficient and effective manner. Peacebuilding, development and humanitarian actors must pull in the same direction in conflict-affected countries.  The three reforms decided by Member States pave the way for a major shift in how the UN operates, but a lot of hard work remains. It requires that all – UN entities and Members States – do their part. Changes in culture and behaviour are prerequisites.  The new resident coordinator system constitutes the core of the reform of the UN development system. Sufficient funding is a critical issue.  While the entities in the UN system live up to their funding obligations, only a limited number of Member States provide voluntary funding to the RC-system. All Member States are encouraged to take part in the burden sharing.  However, the UN also needs to adapt to regional challenges and cross-border operations as is the case in the complex environment of the Sahel region, Syria and other crisis of a regional character. The Peacebuilding Fund’s increased focus on cross-border projects is a positive and necessary development in this regard.  More effective and comprehensive UN efforts on the ground in states ridden by or emerging from conflict, in line with the 2016 resolutions, are necessary to deliver on the SDGs. It is directly connected to the three reform strands initiated by the Secretary General and adopted by member states.  The Peacebuilding Commission has been vitalized following the 2015 review, and we look forward to continuing this trend through the 2020 review. The Peacebuilding Commission has a unique platform and convening power to put peacebuilding on the international agenda.  The Peacebuilding Fund is leading the way, and deserves every possible praise for its efficiency and willingness to innovate.  While humanitarian action and peacekeeping operations are welcome and necessary, more funding should be channeled towards prevention. The PBF cannot shoulder this burden on its own.  The role of the PBF is to be catalytic, not to be the main vehicle to solve every aspect of peacebuilding.  Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that other more substantial and long term funding is provided in order to take advantage of the windows of opportunity created by PBF projects in marginalized communities.  The sources of funding to scale-up activities may be governmental, multilateral and bilateral aid and private investment.  Norway has provided contributions of more than 88 million USD to the PBF since the launch of the fund. Norway is about to enter into a new five year agreement for the next strategic phase of the PBF (2020-24) for 500 million NOK (approximately USD 52 million)  Norway welcomes the World Bank’s increased engagement in fragile states. All multilateral institutions, and the private sector, need to work together to mobilize resources. Adequate financing is key to consolidate peace.  Increased joint assessments, planning and monitoring between the UN and International Financial Institutions are an important innovation that should be expanded upon and institutionalized. The inclusion of regional organizations such as the AU and the EU in joint assessments and planning and monitoring would further greater coherence.  The private sector is a vital component in promoting development and thus lay the groundwork for sustaining peace. However, incentives for investments and a conducive and transparent regulatory framework is necessary in order for the private sector to play this essential role.  Civil society plays a vital role in advocacy and service delivery for peace in conflict areas. The inclusion of civil society also at the community level is key for sustaining peace.  The international community must utilize all the tools at its disposal to combat the Covid 19 pandemic. The Covid 19 Humanitarian Response Plan and the Covid 19 Response and Recovery Multi-Party Trust Fund are important initiatives to this end, but need more and predictable funding. The PBFs efforts in prevention in terms of combating disinformation about the pandemic and reducing the possibility of the pandemic becoming a new driver of conflict is commendable.  The Covid-19 pandemic is an opportunity for the UN development system to prove progress in their ability to work closely together under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator at the country level and to adjust quickly due to changing circumstances.