The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is an intergovernmental advisory body, which formally came into existence in June 2006. The PBC, the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) comprise the UN’s new peacebuilding architecture. ‘The PBC (and by extension, the PBF and PBSO) were designed to:
- bring sustained attention to the pressing needs of countries emerging from conflict;
- promote better coordination and coherence among the myriad of actors involved in peacebuilding;
- marshal resources for peacebuilding; and
- increase the knowledge base for more effective peacebuilding policy and practice’.
There are a wide range of views on the effectiveness of the Peacebuilding Commission. Some of the common points made are that while the PBC has generally failed to improve coordination within the UN and among external actors, it has managed to increase linkages between political and financial actors. Processes of dialogue and consultation, while often cumbersome, have contributed to growing awareness and incorporation of alternate viewpoints on peacebuilding and development. In addition, the PBC has achieved sustained attention to the countries on its agenda; however, it has been less successful in mobilising resources.
