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In a joint virtual meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), ECOSOC President Munir Akram pointed out the impact on the poorest countries and the poorest people.
“Obviously, our first priority is to control and defeat the virus. Some countries have done well and others not so well. The virus is still out of control. We must act together and we must act urgently ”, he emphasized.
At the national level, he urged governments to help the vulnerable, especially people in the informal sector and small and medium-sized enterprises. At the international level, vulnerable countries must have fiscal space to avoid economic collapse, he added.
Our first priority is to control and defeat the virus … we must act together and we must act urgently – President of ECOSOC, Munir Akram
Regarding the recovery from the pandemic, Mr. Akram spoke of the need to use the crisis as an “opportunity to move forward better”, and called on the international community to demonstrate “a willingness to address the structural challenges and inequalities” that they are the underlying causes of many of the economic challenges and threats to peace and security.
The joint meeting of the two UN bodies served as a forum for member states to exchange views on a wide range of issues related to durable peacebuilding and sustainable development, and ways to address challenges. This year, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on development progress and peacebuilding featured prominently in the discussions.
Critical sufficient resources
Speaking with Mr. Akram, Bob Rae, Chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), described the specific challenges faced by post-conflict countries where the Commission participates.
“Several countries in which the PBC participates are at risk of experiencing double-digit contractions in economic growth, and small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ 90 percent of the workforce in Africa, have suffered serious consequences,” he said. .
“This requires us to fundamentally rethink our approaches and put livelihoods, citizens’ economic security and inclusive economic development at the center of peacebuilding,” urged Mr. Rae.
Several countries in which the PBC participates are at risk of experiencing double-digit contractions in economic growth. – PBC President Bob Rae
The PBC president also highlighted the need for sufficient funds to support national ownership and leadership initiatives, which address the root causes of conflict and maintain long-term peace and development.
He warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the risks of fragility globally and has added new pressures on already scarce resources for peacebuilding.
“Demand is outpacing supply of financing,” Rae said, underscoring the “urgent need” for commensurate financial support, including through increased support for the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
Comprehensive and collective approach
Inga Rhonda King, President of the Security Council for the month of November, highlighted the important role played by the PBC and ECOSOC in helping Member States advance their peacebuilding priorities and mobilizing comprehensive development responses to the peacebuilding challenges at the local, national and regional levels. .
The Security Council, for its part, worked to address the possible security implications related to the impact of the pandemic by passing resolution 2532 that reinforced the Secretary General’s calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, he continued.
Ms. King also spoke about the recent open high-level debate on contemporary drivers of conflict and insecurity, in which members of the Security Council joined in their calls for sustainable, integrated and adequately funded approaches to conflict prevention and peacebuilding in line with the principles of international law.
“As we strive to meet the ambitious goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our flagship model for a peaceful and prosperous world, we need, more than ever, a comprehensive and collective approach,” added the President of the Security Council .
‘Leave no one behind’
In a pre-recorded video message to the meeting, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that member states are negotiating resolutions on the upcoming Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review and the 2020 review of the peacebuilding architecture, and that the 2016 resolutions on the subject led to greater coherence between development, humanitarian and peacebuilding actions.
As a result, he declared: “the United Nations system is better equipped to achieve lasting impact in contexts where development and peace efforts are integrated.” He warned Member States that the COVID-19 pandemic generates fragility and conflict, underlining the need for strong collaboration between ECOSOC and PBC.
To that end, the bodies must reconcile short-term stabilization and humanitarian needs with longer-term peacebuilding and development processes.
“Let us seize the opportunity to increase collaboration between humanitarian, development and peace actors, at all levels, to leave no one behind,” he said.
