Permanent Mission of India
New York
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2nd Annual Interactive Dialogue on the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund

Statement by Ambassador Ms. Yojna Patel, Deputy Permanent Representative
18 March 2026

Thank you Mr. Chair,

My delegation thanks you for convening this 2nd Annual Interactive Dialogue on Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). We welcome the presentation by ASG Elizabeth Spehar and the remarks of other briefers. 

2. As the PBF enters the second year of programming with assessed contributions, India reiterates that the Fund's strength lies in its ability to act as a catalyst to mobilize support for peacebuilding efforts. In a resource-constrained environment, PBF must strictly adhere to the following principles to ensure greater impact on the field:

First, national ownership and demand-driven programming

• We emphasize that peacebuilding must be nationally owned and led. PBF Strategy for 2027-30 and programme plans should prioritize countries that demonstrate strong national ownership to ensure the sustainability of peacebuilding efforts. Criteria for prioritization must be based on the host government's explicit requests and priorities. The Fund should avoid "one-size-fits-all" principles, ensuring that any assistance- from youth engagement to transitional justice—is rooted in the local context and needs of the host government.

Second, invest in developing national institutions

• To develop lasting resilience, PBF should prioritize supporting long-term institution-building. India supports greater participation of women and youth in this regard. However, these efforts must be aligned with national priorities and socio-cultural contexts to ensure local buy-in and effective implementation.

Third, leveraging South-South Cooperation

• As the PBF develops its 2027-2030 Strategy, it must look beyond traditional models. We encourage the Fund to integrate best practices from the Global South experiences, including the South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a primary vehicle for knowledge transfer. In this context, PBF can gain from the wealth of experience from the India-Brazil- South Africa (IBSA) Fund and India-UN Development Partnership Fund, which are managed and administered by UNDP and UNOSSC, to support demand-driven projects in the Global South countries.

In conclusion, Mr. Chair, we look forward to the independent evaluation of the current strategy to ensure that the next cycle is made more responsive and impactful.

I Thank you.