The Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened a high-level dialogue focused on preventing conflict and promoting peace where it matters most: in the lives of people and communities affected by violence and instability.
The event, titled "Ground Level Impact and Support to National Prevention Strategies", is part of the preparations for the 2025 UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review. It brought together UN officials, representatives from Member States of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Organizational Committee and thinktanks to highlight how integrated, long-term prevention strategies can build lasting peace.
"Today, more than two billion people are affected by the highest level of violent conflict since the Second World War.Development remains the most powerful tool for prevention, but we are not investing enough. We must rethink how we approach peace," said Shoko Noda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP's Crisis Bureau in her opening remarks.
Citing that UNDP has advocated for the HDP (Humanitarian-Development-Peace) nexus, H.E. Mr. Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, said "Japan fully supports the HDP nexus as we believe peacebuilding and conflict prevention require a comprehensive approach".
Discussions emphasized the need to invest in long-term efforts that address the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, exclusion and weak governance through a human security lens. Immediate response efforts must bridge to sustainable solutions. These investments, participants agreed, must be tailored to each country's unique challenges and driven by national leadership.
The peacebuilding architecture review (PBAR), held every five years, serves as a vehicle for UN Member States to assess progress and identify what more is needed to build and sustain peace. This round will result in updated resolutions from both the UN General Assembly and Security Council in 2025, building on the resolutions on peacebuilding including those adopted in 2016 and 2020. The process is being led by co-facilitators, Slovenia and Egypt.
Today's discussion took place ahead of the formal resolution negotiations.
During the event, ASG Noda highlighted three key elements to prevent conflict, build peace, and support development:
- Peacebuilding cannot be seen separately from development. Addressing the root causes of conflict requires long term development efforts. For example, in the Western Balkans, UNDP is working with youth and women to combat hate speech and promote social cohesion.
- National prevention strategies play a pivotal role in lasting peace. National governments build a stronger foundation for peace by leading efforts to tackle conflict drivers. Through the UNDP-DPPA Joint Programme, Peace and Development Advisors support nationally led efforts in over 40 countries to strengthen institutions and build trust to prevent violence.
- Effective transitions from UN Peace Operations are critical to sustaining peace. In partnership with national government, UN entities, such as UNDP, offers support to limit gaps in governance, security, and economic development. In Iraq, as the UN mission draws down, UNDP is scaling up support to maintain stability and safeguard peacebuilding gains.
Stressing the need to cooperate further with UN entities, including UNDP, who tirelessly work on the ground to consolidate peace, H.E. Mr. Yamazaki emphasized that the PBC members should utilize its convening power to provide more opportunities for those entities to communicate their works as well as the needs for national and local peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts.
In reference, Evelyne Bamba, OIC of Regional Director for Africa of UNDP presented Mauritania's efforts towards development of national prevention strategy. Over the period from 2025 to 2030, the strategy aims to improve advocacy, strengthen coordination, and ensure unified approach to conflict prevention and stability.
