Talking About Peace - Paris Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Prevention
In a world grappling with an unprecedented number of violent conflicts, where peace often feels like a distant dream, key stakeholders from the international community, including government representatives, civil society, and donors, convened in Paris [France] during the first week of March 2025. Our CSPPS Executive Committee Members were present to bring in and amplify the voice of civil society. Members shared recommendations and inputs on ways to address current challenges around peace and conflict prevention.
In this article, we provide a brief overview of the week's events.
Monday 03 March 2025: Talking about Peace and Prevention, aligning the voice of civil society.
The week began with a strategic meeting of the CSPPS Executive Committee. Members delved into the Platform’s position within the current international landscape and identified priorities that civil society must raise with the international community. As civil society representatives, EC members agreed on the urgent need to raise the case of prevention, as many countries in the world are shifting their focus to defence and military security.
Finally, EC members expressed their commitment to forging new partnerships centered around peace and development with stakeholders who share these goals.
You can hear our members Adam Dicko and Marie-Marguerite Clerie sharing their main reflections on this day here.
Tuesday 04 March 2025: Talking about Peace and Prevention, amplify the voice of civil society in the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding.
On the second day, the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) gathered donors, civil society, and g7+ representatives for an annual Steering Committee Meeting to reflect on the purpose of the partnership and its value in the current geopolitical landscape.
The meeting emphasised the unique ability of IDPS to bridge local, national, and global levels, translating local realities into global policies. In a changing global political landscape, the need for new financing models, alliances, and decision-making tools was underscored.
Constituencies agreed on the potential for the IDPS to play a leadership role in advocating for conflict prevention and peacebuilding and new models of partnerships in a changing global environment. The IDPS is ready to develop a shared understanding among development partners, fragile states, and civil society through frank discussions that can form the basis of a refreshed narrative that the Dialogue can use for its collective advocacy.
Looking ahead, IDPS plans to issue a policy statement highlighting key messages and advocacy points for the partnership. These would include the importance of reinforcing the alliance and collaboration for peacebuilding, and demonstrating solidarity amongst the constituency. Recognising the adaptability of fragile states and looking at the current context, the constituency members discussed how to position itself and articulate its role in the financial landscape for better partnerships.
In 2025, the partnership will focus on two key events, namely the Coastal West Africa Dialogue in June and a meeting during the UN General Assembly’s 80th Session in September.
You can hear our members, Elizabeth Hume and Peter van Sluijs, sharing their main reflections of this day here.
Wednesday and Thursday, March 5-6, 2025: Including Civil Society Voices at the OECD Forum
The delegation attended the first OECD Forum on Development, Peace, and Stability, which was held over two days. The forum highlighted the urgent need for a paradigm shift in the approach to peacebuilding and conflict prevention in conflict-affected and fragile settings. As development aid budgets face significant cuts, the forum underscored the necessity of doing development differently. Peacebuilding efforts must adapt and evolve to meet the challenges of today's rapidly changing landscape. This requires a concerted effort to integrate peacebuilding and prevention into broader programmatic interventions, ensuring that these efforts are not compartmentalised but rather integrated into the fabric of development initiatives.
Moreover, the forum emphasised the importance of robust, innovative, and inclusive partnerships, and adapting peacebuilding and prevention efforts to the evolving landscape. Localised political solutions demand that we engage proactively with new actors and review how we shape and sustain these alliances. The presence of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) at the forum is of particular importance as they play a major role in supporting efforts in this domain.
The forum also highlighted the potential for enhanced influence in local contexts, advocating for legitimate politics that bridge the gap between global strategies and on-the-ground realities.
You can hear our members Gwendolyn Myers, Taban A. Christopher, Elise Granlie and Marjus Ceveli sharing their main reflections on this day here and here.
