In the first edition of the UNU-CPR Conversations series, UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala speaks with UNU-CPR researchers Erica Gaston and Sara Clarke Habibi about the future of United Nations peacebuilding at a pivotal moment for the multilateral system.
Marking the twentieth anniversary of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture and the inaugural UN Peacebuilding Week, the conversation reflects on two decades of lessons in sustaining peace while looking ahead to the challenges of an increasingly fragmented and complex global landscape.
The discussion explores how peacebuilding must evolve to address interconnected risks, including geopolitical fragmentation, climate change, emerging technologies, misinformation and declining international financing. It highlights the importance of nationally-owned and locally-led approaches, stronger partnerships with civil society and regional organizations, innovative financing models, and greater investment in prevention rather than crisis response.
The conversation also examines how the United Nations can better connect research, policy and practice, the role of evidence in informing peacebuilding strategies, and the contribution of institutions such as UNU-CPR in generating research that supports more effective multilateral action.
Suggested citation: "Peacebuilding Week 2026," United Nations University, UNU-CPR, 2026-06-26, https://unu.edu/cpr/feature/peacebuilding-week-2026.
