Experiences of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission in Sierra Leone and Burundi

The creation of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission in 2005 was a landmark event for the UN as an institution. However, the true measure of success for any institution is not found in its lofty ideals, but in its ability to deliver a positive impact on people’s lives. In mid-2007, ActionAid, CAFOD and CARE researched the Peacebuilding Commission’s work in Sierra Leone and Burundi to try to capture local opinions and experiences of interacting with this nascent institution one year after its establishment. What they found was an institution whose impact was largely positive, but which faced important challenges and lessons to be learned. Now, one year on from that initial research, the Peacebuilding Commission has had time to overcome many of the initial teething problems common to new organisations and has become better placed to articulate its unique role in post-conflict contexts.