PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

NEW YORK

PRESS RELEASE

26 January 2021

India contributes US$150,000 to the UN Peacebuilding Fund

This week, India delivered on its pledge announced at the 26^th January 2021 United Nations High-Level Replenishment Conference, by making a USD150,000 contribution for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and renewed its commitment to the UN’s peacebuilding efforts with a concomitant hope that more funding by member states will boost efforts by the world body to build and sustain peace. This contribution will ensure the Fund remains fit for purpose amid a time of increasing demand and heightened relevance, especially in the Covid-19 pandemic context, which threatened to erode the gains made over the years.

India has been a member of the Peacebuilding Commission since its inception in December 2005 and has so far contributed nearly USD 6 million to the Peacebuilding Fund. The fresh contribution of USD 150,000 to the Fund was made earlier this week.

As India entered the Security Council for the term 2021-2022, it reaffirms its commitment to peace and security and the broader UN work on peacebuilding. In this connection, India’s contribution to the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund reaffirms its respect for national ownership while underscoring the support for the Secretary-General’s prioritization of peacebuilding and sustaining peace and prevention.

India continues to also assist countries bilaterally in post-conflict situations by providing substantial grants and soft loans, apart from focusing on infrastructure, especially housing, education and health, on connectivity, providing livelihood to those impacted by conflict, especially in agriculture and on projects at the grassroots level.

The Peacebuilding Fund is the UN’s financial instrument of first resort to sustain peace in countries or situations at risk or affected by violent conflict. The Fund’s 2020-2024 strategy is most ambitious yet, responding to the Secretary-General’s call for a quantum leap of support for peacebuilding and prevention with a particular focus on youth and women inclusion in peacebuilding. The Fund has invested over $1.2 billion to date in over 60 countries, with support from almost 60 member states. 

At the close of the conference on 26th January, the UN had announced the convening of a High-Level Meeting on financing peace during its 76th session later this year.