This week PRIO Deputy Director and GPS Centre Director Torunn L. Tryggestad has attended her last meeting as member of theUN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group. She has been a member of this group since 2015. During this time period she has witnessed first hand how the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) has become a driver of UN reform and has made huge progress in size, quality and impact.
The Group is a critical component of the PBF’s governance structure and provides the Secretary-General with advice on the speed and appropriateness of the fund allocation and monitors overall performance.
'Personally, I am particularly pleased and impressed by the fund’s achievements on gender-responsive peacebuilding. In 2019 the fund spent 40% of its investments in support of projects geared towards women’s empowerment and gender equality. The fund well exceeds the Secretary-General's 15% target for the fifth consecutive year. This is a first for any UN fund – or UN entity - as far as I know. The PBF leads by example and shows that change is possible - when there is willingness and commitment.', says Tryggestad.