The Fund, a multi-donor trust mechanism, is the UN’s primary tool for helping countries emerging from or at risk of violent conflict. It operates alongside the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office, with three-quarters of its supported countries located in Africa.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the head of the Peacebuilding Support Office, Elizabeth Spehar, and the Chair of the Fund’s Advisory Group, Macharia Kamau. They said the milestone reflects the Secretary-General’s call for a “quantum leap” in financing for peacebuilding.

However, despite surpassing the $1 billion mark, the Fund still faces a $500 million shortfall towards its $1.5 billion target for the 2020–2026 period. Officials warned that this financial gap limits its ability to respond to rising demand from Member States.

The announcement coincided with coordinated action in New York, where the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming support for the organisation’s peacebuilding architecture. Moments later, the General Assembly adopted the same text, marking a rare display of joint resolve that was first demonstrated in 2005.

The resolution reiterates that sustainable peace depends on development, human rights, and peace and security working in tandem. Spehar noted that the alignment of the resolutions with the funding milestone is “very significant”, underscoring the momentum behind strengthening the UN’s preventative and peacebuilding work.

The Fund continues to operate in more than 50 countries, many of them grappling with protracted conflicts, political instability, or transitions towards peace. UN officials urged Member States to deepen their financial commitments to ensure the Fund can deliver the scale of support required to prevent conflict and build lasting stability.

–UN/ChannelAfrica–