Developments on the Peacebuilding Commission
March 17, 2006
ReformtheUN.org
Original Source: http://www.reformtheun.org/index.php/eupdate/1973

New York, 17 March 2006 -- Find below developments on the selections within the Organizational Committee, and the establishment of a Peacebuilding Support Office and Fund. 
PBC Organizational Committee
While some agreements have been reached, the full 31 members of the Organizational Committee have yet to be selected. Decisions within the top troop contributing countries (5), top financial contributing countries (5), ECOSOC (7) and GA (7) still need to be finalized. Currently the first organizational meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission is expected to be in the first week of April. Among other things, the Committee will need to draw up rules of procedure, prioritize its agenda, determine how often country-specific meetings should occur and whether they should be public or private, and decide on mechanisms for NGO interaction. The PBC is expected to examine two to three active country situations in its first year. 
Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO)
a. Financing
This week the GA's Fifth Committee is considering the Secretary-General's request for additional funding for the Peacebuilding Support Office from within existing UN resources. On February 23rd the Secretary-General submitted a report on the programmatic and financial aspects of establishing the Peacebuilding Support Office, which outlines resource requirements for the Office for 2006-2007. According to the report, the total requirements for the Peacebuilding Support Office amount to $5,595,400, with a need for 15 posts (12 professional, 3 general) as opposed to the 21 initially requested. Of this amount, $2,790,000 for eight posts would be met through redeployment of 5 posts from within the UN system and non-reimbursable secondment of 3 staff from other organizations within the UN. The Secretary-General has determined that an additional $2,805,400 would be needed for the remaining post and non-post requirements, which could be met under resources approved through a provision for special political missions (section 3, Political Affairs, of the programme budget 2006-2007). The Secretary-General has determined that further redeployment or secondment of staff would be difficult to carry out without adversely affecting existing programmes. 
On March 9th, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) submitted its report in response to the Secretary-General's request, recommending that $1,571,300 as opposed to the requested $2,805,400 be allotted temporarily for up to seven posts from the special provision on political missions. The Committee also recommended that a review of the staffing needs of the Office be conducted and submitted for the consideration of the proposed budget for 2008-2009. This review would also look at funding requests for the hiring of expert consultants and travel needs. 
b. Structure
The Secretary-General's report also outlines the envisioned shape and functions of the Peacebuilding Support Office. The PBSO, which will be placed within the Executive Office, is likely to be led by an Assistant Secretary-General. Neither the PBC nor the PBSO will possess operational capacity. 
Generally, the Office, as envisioned by the Secretary-General, will be responsible for gathering and analyzing information and providing technical support relating to the availability of resources, UN in-country activities, progress towards meeting short/medium term recovery goals, and best practices on crosscutting peacebuilding issues. The office will therefore facilitate coherence, identify and address gaps, ensure that the PBC draws from the expertise and capacities of the UN system and outside networks, and integrate lessons-learned in advice provided by the Secretary-General to the Commission. 
The office is likely to work in close coordination with the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Nations Development Programme, to ensure expertise on political, peacekeeping and development issues. The Office will also draw from the expertise of other UN agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and OHCHR. Find below a specific breakdown of the PBSO's functions and posts based on the Secretary-General's report. 
Financing for peacebuilding support (3 posts): analyze and collect information on financing for post-conflict countries; advocate strengthening capacities of mandated agencies/partners where resources are inadequate or unavailable; advise the PBC on best ways to ensure sustained financing of recovery, development and other peacebuilding activities.
Planning support (5 posts): convene and lead peacebuilding planning efforts; provide inputs into integrated missions planning process; develop reports on progress and implementation.
Policy and analysis support (4 posts): review best practices in peacebuilding and prepare analytical reports; maintain partnerships with expert networks; develop/manage knowledge network within UN system.
Other support: oversee management coordination and decision-making aspects of the Peacebuilding Fund; ensure oversight and reporting needs of PBC are met; coordinate support and servicing of the PBC.
Peacebuilding Fund
The multi-year standing fund for post-conflict peacebuilding initiatives will serve to ensure immediate release of funds to launch peacebuilding activities, address gaps, and support ongoing recovery efforts. Various countries have already made pledges to the fund and the Terms of Reference are currently being developed.