Download the Executive Summary PDF (100K)

On September 16, 2005, leaders of the United Nations member states unanimously agreed to commit resources to countries emerging from conflict and transitioning toward stability and peace. The brainchild of this commitment was the new Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), supported by an office and a standing fund. Subsequent UN resolutions affirmed that the Peacebuilding Commission’s responsibilities will be to:

1. Bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources, and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery.

2. Focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict, and to support the development of integrated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development.

To encourage frank and full discussion of peacebuilding results to date under this new UN structure and set policy instruments, the Stanley Foundation sponsored a conference on “Peacebuilding Following Conflict,” at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, June 19-21, 2009. This conference roundtable provided a forum for United Nations member states, officials from UN departments and programmes, and experts from leading US think tanks to assess efforts to date on peacebuilding, and to discuss the secretary-general’s landmark report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict. This full conference report summarizes the discussions.