On December 20, 2005, the United Nations Security Council passed a historic resolution establishing the Peacebuilding Commission. The Commission will identify states on the verge of collapse, provide assistance to prevent such collapses, and sustain efforts of the international community in post-conflict peacebuilding, especially after global attention wanes from the crises. it will also provide a forum in which major stakeholders can share information about comprehensive post-conflict recovery efforts that take into account political, security, development and economic spheres.

Specifically, the Commission will:

  • Propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery;
  • Help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and sustained financial investment over the medium- to longer-term.
  • Extend the period of attention by the international community to post-conflict recovery;
  • Develop best practices on issues that require extensive collaboration among political, military, humanitarian and development actors.

The Commission will include an Organizational Committee and country specific committees.

The Organizational Committee will be made up of 31 member countries:

  1. Seven from the Security Council (including permanent members);
  2. Seven from the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), giving particular consideration to those that have experienced post-conflict recovery;
  3. Five out of the top 10 financial contributors to the UN budgets including voluntary contributions to UN agencies and programs and the Peacebuilding Fund;
  4. Five out of the top 10 providers of military personnel and civilian police to UN missions; and
  5. Seven additional members, to redress remaining geographical imbalances and include countries with post-conflict experience, to be elected by the General Assembly

In addition, a representative of the Secretary-General, the World bank (WBG), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other institutional donors will be invited to all commission meetings.

 The concept of a Peacebuilding Commission was introduced in December 2004 in a UN High-Level Panel Report and gained momentum in March 2005 when Secretary-General Kofi Annan released his report, "In Larger Freedom".

In the report, Annan noted a "gaping hole" in the UN's efforts to help countries recovering from war build a lasting peace. Currently, half the countries emerging from violent conflict slip back into instability or violence within five years. Since no part of the current UN system is directly responsible for helping countries rebuild quickly after a conflict ends and establish peace, the Secretary-General proposed creating a permanent Peacebuilding Commission.

This proposal was given the green light by over 150 heads of state that came together in September 2005 for the largest gathering of world leaders in history. The creation of this commission is an important step toward creating space for countries to come together and work cooperatively in solving global problems.