EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides an in-depth examination of the challenges and opportunities for strengthening peacebuilding efforts in Africa, as discussed during the African Regional Thematic Consultation in Pretoria in October 2024. The event underscored Africa’s role in shaping global peacebuilding priorities. It highlighted the successes and the critical gaps in efforts to achieve sustainable peace.
The United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA), established in 2005 and redefined with the 2016 twin resolutions, aims to move beyond crisis management towards sustained peace by embedding peacebuilding throughout all conflict phases. Despite successes in mobilising international attention, problems such as inconsistent funding and fragmented coordination persist. This report aligns Africa’s peacebuilding needs with the evolving global agenda, particularly in light of emerging threats such as climate change, geopolitical shifts and digital insecurity.
KEY CHALLENGES
• National and Local Barriers: Africa’s peacebuilding landscape is shaped by a complex mix of socio-economic, environmental and governance issues. Internal conflicts — often involving numerous non-state actors, ethnic divisions, inadequate infrastructure and democratic backsliding — hinder stability. Youth unemployment, radicalisation, economic inequality and climate-induced resource conflicts pose significant threats.
• Regional Challenges: Cross-border conflicts, weak regional coordination and transnational organised crime contribute to instability. Regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) face difficulties in maintaining cohesion, as seen with the breakaway of some Sahelian states to form the Alliance of Sahelian States.
• International Setbacks: Shifting power dynamics, declining multilateral cooperation and inconsistent application of international law complicate effective peacebuilding. Geopolitical rivalry and the involvement of external actors prolong conflicts and reduce incentives for negotiation.
CRITICAL GAPS IDENTIFIED
• Fragmentation: Disjointed efforts among the UN, the AU, regional economic communities (RECs) and other stakeholders limit the impact of peacebuilding.
• Weak National Ownership: Despite the rhetoric, local actors often have limited roles in shaping peacebuilding priorities, which remain primarily top-down.
• Short-term Focus: Many peacebuilding initiatives prioritise immediate needs over sustainable, long-term resilience, often neglecting root causes like socio-economic inequality.
• Inadequate Financing: Peacebuilding efforts rely heavily on unpredictable external funding, necessitating innovative, sustainable financing solutions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Enhancing National Ownership:
Countries should integrate peacebuilding into their national plans, with budget allocations to reduce reliance on external actors. Strengthening local peacebuilding architectures and defining ownership more clearly are key.
• Integrating New Threats:
To keep strategies relevant, it is essential to incorporate climate resilience, address misinformation and use nationally-led historical analyses.
• Innovative Financing:
Promoting natural resource royalties, peace bonds and private–public partnerships can diversify funding streams, whereas regional peace funds can support local solutions.
• Strengthening Coherence:
To reduce fragmentation, more focused engagement between the UN, the AU, RECs and civil society, with clear outcomes and monitoring, is needed.
• Promoting Inclusivity and Gender Equality:
Women, youth and marginalised groups must be central to peacebuilding processes, supported by mechanisms like quotas and institutional integration.
The 2025 UN Peacebuilding Architecture review presents a unique opportunity to align global frameworks with Africa’s specific needs. By fostering national ownership, promoting innovative financing and enhancing coordination, peacebuilding initiatives can become more sustainable, proactive and capable of addressing the continent’s evolving needs.