The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), and the European Union (EU) have signed a new agreement under the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention, marking the renewal of a flagship partnership to strengthen nationally led efforts to prevent conflict and sustain peace.
Through this new three-year contribution, the European Union will support the current five-year phase of the Joint Programme (2024-2028). The EU's support will help deepen national prevention strategies, strengthen inclusive infrastructures for peace, advance gender equality, elevate youth participation, and reinforce UN system-wide capacities for conflict-sensitive programming and analysis.
"This partnership demonstrates the power of prevention - and the power of partnership. By investing in nationally led solutions to manage tensions and foster dialogue, we can help countries move from reacting to crises to preventing them," said Shoko Noda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP's Crisis Bureau.
Since its creation in 2004, the Joint Programme has deployed Peace and Development Advisors (PDAs) across more than 70 countries, helping governments and civil society address the root causes of conflict, strengthen dialogue, and promote national ownership of prevention and peacebuilding.
"In today's challenging context, we are pleased to reaffirm our support to the Joint Programme. This renewal underscores our commitment to multilateralism and to working together. We count on the UN system and the Peace and Development Advisors to step up in in their key role in strengthening national capacities for conflict prevention and promoting strategic approaches that integrate peace, development, humanitarian and security efforts.'' - Peter M. Wagner, Head of the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
The EU's contribution will also fund peer-to-peer exchanges, learning platforms, and innovation to advance best practices in conflict prevention. It will enable PDA deployments in fragile contexts in mission transition settings and ensure continuity of support to national efforts.
Background
The Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention is a flagship UN initiative that brings together the peace and development pillars of the UN to operationalize prevention on the ground. Through its cadre of Peace and Development Advisors, the Programme supports nationally owned efforts to identify and address drivers of conflict, strengthen infrastructures for peace, and promote inclusive governance and dialogue.
The Programme directly contributes to the UN Secretary-General's New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future, and aligns with both UNDP and DPPA strategic frameworks. It is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from partners, including the European Union.
