The need for peacebuilding is real. Peacebuilding aims to address the drivers underlying conflict, as well as the drivers of resilience, to promote prevention and sustain peace. Peacebuilding extends beyond elites at negotiation tables, and includes dispute resolution, reconciliation work, intergroup dialogue and cooperation, (re)integration measures, prevention of violent extremism, post-traumatic healing, social cohesion, tolerance and trust-building.

Peacebuilding has always been underfunded. However, given the economic shocks emanating from the pandemic, more peacebuilding may need to be delivered with even less financing. It is therefore high time to address some problems with how peacebuilding is currently financed.