Chapter I: International peace and security a strong strategic communications strategy at both the field and global levels. According to the report, the way ahead included establishment of full fund management capacity within the Peacebuilding Support Office to improve global and country-level support, in particular during the critical start-up phase of Fund activities in each country; the establishment of a robust accountability framework to respond to the information and oversight requirements of the Fund’s donors; improved synergy with the Peacebuilding Commission; using the Fund to improve UN cooperation and collaboration on peacebuilding to strengthen the system’s ability to support countries emerging from conflict; and expanding the Fund’s operations to strategically assist more countries requiring urgent peacebuilding support. Revised terms of reference. In April [A/63/818], the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly revised terms of reference for the Peacebuilding Fund, following up on an earlier report [YUN 2006, p. 57] in which he had laid out terms of reference and indicated that they should be reviewed no later than two years after their adoption, following consultations with the Advisory Group and the outcome of an independent evaluation. The revised terms of reference annexed to the report emerged from that process. The revision had been guided by two broad objectives. The first was to enhance the Fund’s capacity to serve as a flexible, responsive and focused resource for peacebuilding support—including through rationalizing and simplifying the Fund’s structure and architecture. The second objective was to maximize the synergy between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Fund through enhanced consultation and dialogue. The Peacebuilding Support Office would review Fund guidance documents in cooperation with the undp Multi-donor Trust Fund Office, as well as with the Advisory Group, donors, recipient UN organizations and country-level stakeholders. The undp Multi-donor Trust Fund Office would continue to serve as the Peacebuilding Fund’s administrative agent, with primary responsibility for maintaining its accounts. The Fund itself would be managed in accordance with undp regulations, rules, directives and procedures. To enhance accountability and clarify roles and responsibilities, arrangements detailing the relationship between the Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office and the undp Multi-donor Trust Fund Office would be reviewed so as to reflect the provisions of the revised terms of reference. As set out in the revised terms of reference, the Peacebuilding Support Office would conduct regular briefings on the Fund’s performance with Member States, the Peacebuilding Commission and donors, while a proposed annual meeting would enable
49 stakeholders to review Fund performance, results and emerging lessons. That event would also provide an opportunity to regularly replenish the Fund. It was the Secretary-General’s view that the revised terms of reference would contribute to improving the Fund’s efficiency and effectiveness in stabilizing countries emerging from conflict, in addressing critical gaps immediately following the signing of peace agreements, and in strengthening national capacities to pursue peacebuilding programmes. Fund resources, combined with the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission, would help to ensure that post-conflict countries would benefit from sustained international attention and support. Member States were encouraged to continue providing regular voluntary contributions. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION
On 17 June [meeting 90], the General Assembly adopted resolution 63/282 [draft: A/63/L.72 & Add.1] without vote [agenda item 101]. The Peacebuilding Fund The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/180 and Security Council resolution 1645(2005) of 20 December 2005, as well as its resolution 60/287 of 8 September 2006, 1. Takes note of the arrangements for the revision of the terms of reference for the Peacebuilding Fund as contained in the report of the Secretary-General and the revised terms of reference for the Fund contained in the annex thereto; 2. Notes that the broad objectives of the revision of the terms of reference for the Peacebuilding Fund are to enhance the capacity of the Fund to serve as a flexible, responsive and focused resource for peacebuilding support and to enhance and maximize the synergy between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Fund; 3. Affirms the respective roles of the General Assembly, the Peacebuilding Commission and the independent Advisory Group to provide policy guidance on the use of the Fund to maximize its impact and improve its functioning; 4. Welcomes the contributions and financial pledges made to the Fund, and emphasizes the necessity of sustained contributions in order to enhance the capacity of the Fund to provide the predictable and catalytic resources needed to launch post-conflict peacebuilding activities; 5. Urges all Member States to consider making voluntary contributions to the Fund; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the operation and activities of the Fund; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in his annual report on the operation and activities of the Fund to be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session the findings and recommendations from the next comprehensive independent evaluation; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled “Report of the SecretaryGeneral on the Peacebuilding Fund”.