ACCORD participated in the 3rd CSO-UN Peacebuilding Dialogue in Geneva from 10 to 11 December 2025. The Civil Society Organisation (CSO)-United Nations (UN) Dialogue on Peacebuilding Initiative, launched in 2023, brings together diverse civil society actors engaged in global peacebuilding policy and discussions. This year’s theme, “A Whole-of-System Approach to Peacebuilding towards Operationalising the Peace, Human Rights, Development and Humanitarian Nexus,” brought together member states and UN departments working on peacebuilding, humanitarian action, and human rights to discuss the challenges and prospects of peacebuilding. This initiative aligns with ACCORD’s strategic objective to strengthen the role of multi-dimensional stakeholders in peacebuilding.
The world is witnessing a decline in multilateralism and a rise in forceful peace. The two-day event gathered over 200 participants who reflected on barriers to locally driven peacebuilding, disparities in funding allocation, and the siloed coordination and implementation of efforts across the peace, humanitarian, human rights, and development nexus. As a core group member, ACCORD brought forward issues regarding peacebuilding in Africa, drawn from a series of consultations with numerous African civil society organisations over the past four months. CSOs recommended effective implementation of the nexus centred on multilateralism, localisation, inclusive engagement, collaboration, and flexible financing to ensure sustainable peace outcomes. Participants emphasised the need for a whole-of-system approach, stronger partnerships among CSOs, governments, the donor community, and the UN, and the meaningful integration of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas at all levels of intervention.
ACCORD was also appointed as the next Co-chair for the 2026 CSO-UN dialogue. This role will ensure continued space for dialogue across the peace, development, human rights, and humanitarian sectors between policymakers and practitioners, supporting sustainable peace.
