According to a dispatch from New York, Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara announced the contribution at a Special Pledging Conference for the Secretary-General’s Peace-building Fund held on the margins of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the United Kingdom, the conference was intended to build political momentum for addressing systemic and structural challenges related to sustainable financing for programs aimed at sustaining peace around the world.
The Fund has targeted US$300 million for the next two years covering 2017-2019.
Making remarks at the conference, Minister Kamara extended deep gratitude to the co-hosts for organizing the Conference to increase donors' contributions to and mobilize resources for the Peace-building Fund.
“Liberia’s partnership with the Fund has taken us closer to achieving our priorities which we have defined to be reforming the security sector, restoring the rule of law and promoting national reconciliation,” she said.
This support proved critical during the fight against the Ebola virus disease, as the five regional Land Commission Centers, supported by the Peace-building Fund, offered a network through which trusted communications about the health response were delivered to local communities.
Recently, Liberia concluded a new Statement of Mutual Commitment with the Peace-building Commission, to which it remains committed, the foreign minister said.
“The full implementation of this will lead to a further consolidation of peace and successful conduct of legislative and presidential elections in October 2017,” Minister Kamara indicated.
She added that with Liberia’s contribution, the country demonstrates sincere gratitude and confirms the relevant and critical role the Peace-building Fund has played in sustaining peace in Liberia.
The PBF was established in 2006, through General Assembly Resolution A/60/180 and Security Council Resolution S/RES/1645 (2005).
It enables the UN to seize political opportunities it would likely otherwise miss. Importantly, it enables partners to pool risk and respond coherently by providing initial or bridge financing for UN preventive and peace-building programs.
LINA PR/TSS/PTK