United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the United Nations' primary instrument for supporting peacebuilding globally, has played a vital role in advancing peace and reconciliation worldwide. Established in 2006 as part of the United Nations' Peacebuilding Architecture, the PBF invests through partnerships with United Nations entities, governments, regional organizations, multilateral banks, national multi-donor trust funds, and civil society organizations. The PBF operates across sectors, supporting integrated United Nations responses that:

• Fill critical gaps in peacebuilding initiatives,
• Respond quickly and flexibly to emerging opportunities, and
• Catalyze processes and resources with a risk-tolerant approach.

Funding Mechanisms

The PBF operates through two primary funding mechanisms:

1. Immediate Response Facility (IRF): provides short-term peacebuilding support of up to $5 million for projects lasting up to 24 months. Funding requires a joint United Nations-government agreement on priority areas and is open to all countries.
2. Peacebuilding and Recovery Facility (PRF): supports larger, multi-year programs designed to address long-term peacebuilding priorities and structural issues. It is available only to countries that have obtained formal eligibility status, which is granted for a five-year period. Projects under the PRF can last up to 36 months.

PBF Eligibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In November 2022, the United Nations Secretary-General granted Bosnia and Herzegovina eligibility to access funding from the PBF, following a formal request from the Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This five-year eligibility allows Bosnia and Herzegovina to receive support for initiatives that empower local voices, particularly women and youth, to strengthen inclusive and sustainable peace across the country. This eligibility also enables Bosnia and Herzegovina, through United Nations agencies and eligible NGOs, to submit proposals for additional funding opportunities and engage more actively in global peacebuilding platforms such as the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in New York. The PBF has become a cornerstone of the United Nations peacebuilding efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, driving transformative initiatives that align with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021–2025 and country’s EU accession priorities, particularly Key Priority 5, which focuses on promoting reconciliation and overcoming the legacies of conflict. At the heart of the PBF’s vision is the principle of local ownership, ensuring that peacebuilding efforts are rooted in the active participation and empowerment of domestic actors, including government institutions, civil society, victims and survivors, youth, and women.  

Focus

The PBF’s work in Bosnia and Herzegovina is guided by three key thematic pillars:

1. Improving Trust Within and Between Communities: Promoting positive interactions, inclusive dialogue, and intergenerational trauma healing to foster mutual understanding and respect.
2. Strengthening Inter-Community and Inter-Entity Engagement: Enhancing responsive, inclusive, and transparent service delivery by authorities, particularly in education, culture, and the environment.
3. Dealing with the Past: Supporting truth-seeking, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence, with a focus on the dignity and rights of survivors of wartime violations.

Key PBF Initiatives in BiH

The PBF currently supports six active projects implemented by United Nations agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Women, and IOM) in partnership with the government, as well as two projects lead by civil society organizations (BIRN and the War Childhood Museum).

1. Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality, and Trust (Regional Project)
2. Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion in BiH (SPSC)
3. Dialogue for the Future – Phase Three (DFF3)
4. Women Lead the Way Towards Peace and Security in BiH (WPS)
5. Investment in the Future – Building Long-Lasting Peace in BiH
6. PEACESTORY: Empowering Creative Peacebuilders and Educators

Partners and Contributors

The PBF collaborates closely with government institutions, local government units, NGOs, educational institutions, and cultural organizations to ensure an inclusive approach to peacebuilding. Globally, the PBF is funded through voluntary contributions from Member States. Since its establishment, the Fund has allocated over $1.67 billion to 65 countries, with active programming in around 50 countries.