It is increasingly recognized that women bear the brunt of conflict. It is also recognized that women have a vital role to play in rebuilding society after conflict. Women’s roles in conflict and post-conflict societies range from perpetrators of armed violence to witnesses, victims, economic entrepreneurs, healers and re-builders of communities. However, women are often absent at peace negotiation tables, and their needs not systematically integrated in post-conflict programming.
The Peacebuilding Fund recognizes that systematic inclusion of women in peacebuilding is intrinsic to the just reconstruction of political, legal, economic and social structures, and to the advancement of gender equality goals. Together with its partners, the PBF aims to contribute to gender equality by increasing the participation of women in political processes, strengthen their voices in post-conflict planning processes and address their specific post-conflict needs. In doing so, the PBF supports the ever expanding Women, Peace and Security agenda, reflected in Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960.
The PBF supports a range of peacebuilding activities that promote gender equality, address women’s needs and empower women.
Some examples:
- In Nepal, the PBF has supported the provision of reproductive healthcare services to female ex-combatants from the Maoist army during the discharge and reintegration process, thereby ensuring a gender-sensitive DDR process;
- In Liberia, support from the PBF has enabled the establishment of a specialized unit within the Ministry of Justice exclusively dedicated to prosecuting crimes of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as well as the training of judiciary and police on cases-processing and victim support;
- In the Central African Republic, the PBF supports activities to enhance access to justice for women in rural, conflict-prone areas through training of paralegals and awareness campaigns, as well as their economic empowerment through micro-credit activities;
- In Guinea-Conakry, Burundi and Comoros, the PBF supports the participation of women’s civil society organizations in the peace building process, and strengthening economic opportunities for female entrepreneurs.
In his 2010 report on Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding (S/2010/498), the UN Secretary General presented a 7-point action plan to strengthen implementation of the Security Council resolution 1325.
As part of that plan, he committed the PBF to allocate at least 15 per cent of its resources to projects that are designed to address women’s specific needs, advance gender equality and/or empower women, with a mid-term target of 10 % by October 2012. In addition and as an overall principle, the Fund is committed to ensuring that gender is mainstreamed throughout its projects. The adoption of a gender marker late 2009 has allowed the Fund to better track these commitments.
PBF Gender Promotion Initiative
On June 2, the PBSO launched a $5 million call for proposals; the PBF Gender Promotion Initiative. In response to the findings of the 2010 Secretary-General’s report on Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding, this Initiative aims to:
- Help implement the commitments of the Secretary-General’s 7-point action Plan on Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding;
- Address gender-equality concerns and strengthen women’s empowerment within the PBF portfolio; and
- Stimulate UN system learning in programming of gender-responsive peacebuilding projects, including the collection and dissemination of good practices.
16 countries that have been declared eligible by the Secretary-General to receive PBF funding were invited to submit peacebuilding projects that advance gender equality, address women’s and girls’ needs and/or empower women. The level of response was encouraging: PBSO received 22 proposals from 15 countries totaling USD 19.1 million.
On 14 and 15 September 2011, a special Project Appraisal Committee convened to assess the projects received for this call. The Project Appraisal Committee consisted of four PBSO representatives and three external experts. 
Download PBF Gender Promotion Initiative Conditionally Approved Projects Seven Proposals were conditionally approved under this call, and technical follow-up will now be undertaken with country teams. PBF looks forward to generating good practices in the area of women and peacebuilding programming through this Initiative.
