Strengthening Peacebuilding Impact on the Ground: Considerations for Global Policy

Held on 13 December 2024 as a parallel side session during the second annual CSO-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding, this discussion brought together participants, including diverse local peacebuilders and representatives of the UN and Member States. 

The focus of this session was directed toward the lived experiences and expertise of local peacebuilders. The discussion highlighted a widespread perception that the concept of impact is understood differently by various stakeholders, that local action lacks sufficient evidence of its impact that meets donor expectations, and that local peacebuilders lack support in capturing their impact in ways that align with donors’ differing expectations. Continued inquiry into these emerging questions around local peacebuilding action is essential to advance progress in understanding and demonstrating peacebuilding impact.

The discussion brought forward several dimensions of the conversation on impact, including the space for learning on peacebuilding impact, accountability demands faced by local peacebuilders, and fundraising needs of local actors, which cannot be seamlessly integrated into one framework. The points raised during this discussion can serve as a foundation for follow-up discussions in light of upcoming policy processes such as the formal phase of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review.