Vertical Integration and the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture

Post-conflict peacebuilding has emerged since the end of the Cold War as a crucial global governance challenge and has become increasingly institutionalized — especially with the formation of the United Nations (UN) Peacebuilding Commission — as the centerpiece of the peace and security agenda of the UN system.  The post-Cold War record of peacebuilding is, however, uneven at best; much remains to be learned about how international actors can best assist war-torn societies in making the transition to sustainable peace.

Drawing on the concept of vertical integration – a notion which underlines the need for greater coherence and coordination of peacebuilding efforts among actors working at international, national, and local levels – this project aims to generate policy-relevant research that leads to improved peacebuilding practices by multilateral actors. Beginning in 2012, research will be conducted in Haiti, Sierra Leone and New York. In addition to other activities, key deliverables for this project will include the publication of research papers and a policy brief, as well as a policy workshop planned for November 2013.