Joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission 2026

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I call to order the joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission on the theme "From Risk to Resilience: Advancing Social Cohesion Through Job Creation in Peacebuilding Context." Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Welcome to this joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and Peacebuilding Commission. It is our first since the adoption of the twin resolutions on the 2025 review of the United Nations Peacebuilding architecture, which called for strengthened cooperation between our two bodies. I also take It also takes place during the inaugural Peacebuilding Week, underscoring our shared commitment to advancing peace and development in a more integrated manner. Today's theme, From Risk to Resilience: Advancing Social Cohesion Through Job Creation in Peacebuilding Context, goes to the heart of the connections between peace and development. It also speaks directly to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the promise to leave no one behind. Excellencies, as reaffirmed at the Second World Social Summit in Doha, poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social integration remain mutually reinforcing objectives that are essential for building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies. For many people living in fragile and conflict-affected settings, peace is measured not only by the absence of conflict but by the presence of opportunity, the opportunity to earn a living, to support a family, to build a future. When such opportunities are absent, exclusions can deepen and trust can weaken. When they are present, they can strengthen resilience, foster inclusions, and create hope. This is why employment, entrepreneurship, and livelihoods matter. Yet, for too many people, opportunity remains out of reach. Young people continue to face significant barriers to entering the labor market. One in five young people is not in employment, education, or training, and young people are nearly 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Women continue to face barriers that limit their full participation in economic life and access to decent work. The challenges are often most acute in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Behind these figures are people whose aspirations, whose talents, and whose potentials are not being fully realized. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, the ECOSOC Special Meeting I convened in May reminded us that crises do not occur in isolation. Their impacts are felt in people's daily lives, including their ability to earn a living, support their families, and plan for the future. Building resilience therefore requires more than responding to crisis. It requires creating the conditions for people and communities to thrive. This means investing in people. This means expanding access to skill development, supporting entrepreneurship and innovations, and creating pathways to decent work, particularly for young people and women. It also means strengthening partnerships that can expand access to decent work and livelihoods at scale. Expanding access to decent work and sustainable livelihoods is therefore not only an economic imperative, but it is a peacebuilding imperative. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are often the backbone of local economies. They create jobs. They support families. and they help communities recover and thrive. Improving access to finance and markets can help MSMEs grow, create jobs, and strengthen local economies. Supporting their growth is therefore an investment in stronger communities and lasting peace. Youth engagement remains a priority for of my presidency. Young people are not only beneficiaries of peace-building efforts, they are innovators, they are entrepreneurs, and they are agents of change. Their ideas, their energy, and their leadership are essential to building more resilience, more peaceful, and more prosperous prosperous societies. Excellencies, the challenges before us do not fit neatly within the institutional boundaries, neither should our response. Today's discussion brings together member states, the United Nations systems, international financial institutions, private sector, and civil society. Together, we must identify practical ways to strengthen the link between economic opportunities, social cohesion, and peacebuilding efforts. The people living in fragile and conflict-affected settings are not simply asking for assistance. They are asking for opportunities—opportunities to work, opportunities to contribute, opportunities to build a better future for themselves, for their families, and for their communities. Helping to create those opportunities is one of the most powerful contributions we can make to sustaining peace, because when people have a stake in the future, they also have a stake in peace. And with this, I look forward to reach an action-oriented discussion ahead. I thank you. I now hand over the conduct of the meeting to my co-chair. Excellency, you have the floor now.

Merci. Thank you, co-president. First and foremost, I would like to state that it is my pleasure and honor to co-chair with the President of ECOSOC this joint meeting of the ECOSOC and the PBC on a theme which is very relevant and very important, From Risk to Resilience: Advancing Social Cohesion Through Job Creation in Peacebuilding Contexts. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin our panel debate, which is our panel discussion, which is bringing together very important voices without whom employment cannot become a real lever for peace— that of international financial institutions who mobilize resources and shape development policies; the voice of the guardians of norms for decent labor who see to it that every job that is created is also a dignified The voice of the private sector and of entrepreneurship on the ground who transform ambitions into concrete gains in salaries and jobs. And lastly, the voices of civil society which serve as a reminder of the fact that social cohesion cannot be decreed. Social cohesion is woven together at the community level. Today we are brought together by this important conviction. In a fragile context, a job is never merely a simple economic and statistic factor. There is a need to create real jobs to rebuild trust between citizens and their futures, and it is Moving from risk to resilience, and in this way our panelists will now shed light on this situation. I wish to thank them in advance. Before giving them the floor, I would like to remind speakers of the 5-minute limitation for each statement in order to provide the greatest amount of time possible for an interactive discussion to be held. It is now my pleasure to invite The distinguished panelists: Madam Cynthia Samuel Alonjoan, Special Representative to the United Nations and Director of the International Labour Organization Office for the UN. Madam Maria Dimitriou, Special Representative to the United Nations and Head of Multilateral Affairs at the World Bank. Mr. Roland Fomondain, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Greenhouse Ventures, who is joining us through video conference from Cameroon, and Madame Geneviève Ricoboni, Program Coordinator for Women, Peace and Security at the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. I now give the floor to Madame Cynthia Samuel Ollong'Juan.

Thank you very much, Mr. President of ECOSOC. Thank you so much, the co-chair Ambassador Hilal and the excellent co-facilitator of the Second World Summit for Social Development. I'll keep to time, I promise. Today's discussion on advancing social cohesion through job creation within the peacebuilding context is at the heart of the International Labour Organization's mandate. Since its creation in 1919, after the First World War, along with the League of Nations, it has been guided by the conviction, and I quote, that universal and lasting peace can only be achieved if it is based on social justice. Conflict has severe implications for the world of work. First, it limits the opportunities that workers have to be able to enjoy basic social protection and fundamental principles and rights at work. But also, we have seen that poverty, unemployment, underemployment, and decent work deficits can themselves become triggers of vulnerability and fragility. And it's really exciting to be part of this excellent panel of colleagues who together we have worked over the years to see how we bring— we support member states to bring about meaningful change. Despite the fact that it's known that there is a very important alignment or misalignment between employment and peace, in many of the conversations on peacebuilding, employment has often been considered a secondary priority or not even a priority at all. Within the context of the interagency collaboration to address this issue in a comprehensive manner, the ILO, PBSO, UNDP, and the World Bank in 2016 conducted an assessment to be able to see the contribution that employment makes to pre— peace but also identifying the key employment-related drivers that accentuate or contribute to conflict. This led to the theory of change on how decent work contributes to peacebuilding. In addition, in 2017, for the very first time, there was an international normative framework that was agreed upon by the Global Comm— —providing guidance on addressing world of work issues in response to crisis situations, explicitly linking employment, social protection, labor rights, social dialogue to peace and resilience. This is the ILO Recommendation 205 on employment and decent work for peace and resilience. Building on both the theory of change that came out of the interagency process and the convention— the recommendation 205 that came out of the Intergovernmental+ process in 2017, I will highlight 3 issues. First, jobs matter, but decent jobs matter even more. Evidence shows that employment interventions are most effective when they go beyond the numbers. Just beyond the quantity of jobs and look at promoting decent work, which integrates social protection, labor rights, social dialogue, and inclusion. Employment and decent work programs in conflict-affected settings contribute to dignity, social transformation, social cohesion, and social justice. And the President, in his opening remarks, provided us with the that and provided us with a lot of issues I will not focus on since he's already addressed them. It's important that special emphasis is placed on youth and women, given their special needs and the challenges that they face in relation to crisis, conflict, and disaster. Second, social dialogue and labor market institutions are essential. I'd like to repeat that. Social dialogue and labor market institutions are essential for prevention. Peacebuilding is strengthened when workers, employers, governments have the mechanisms to address tensions, negotiate solutions, and ensure participation. Experience from across the board, Global South, Global North, and in different contexts demonstrate that social dialogue can help prevent conflict escalation, by addressing grievances, strengthening institutional trust, and promoting inclusive decision-making. Third, partnerships help to translate evidence to impact. No one institution can do it alone, and this was already addressed by the two co-chairs. Effective partnerships between governments, social partners, UN system, international financial institutions like the World Bank, civil society, the private sector are critical for scaling decent work approaches, integrating them into prevention strategies and ensuring that they respond to the emerging challenges like climate change as well as dealing with the issues of displacement and youth employment— youth unemployment that has been well addressed by the two COFACS. With this, and I'll end with with this part, 3 priorities seem particularly important as we go forward. One, we need to move beyond counting the jobs. It's not just about quantity. Quality matters. We have to focus on decent work outcomes so we're not perpetuating poverty. Second, we need to invest more systematically in local and national labor market institutions as well as social dialogue mechanisms. 3, stronger partnerships between all the relevant partners and in all the pertinent fora is important for ensuring that the evidence of the role of employment, particularly decent work in peacebuilding, is applied and translated to bring about tangible and sustainable results on the ground. As was reflected in the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, prevention requires integrated approaches that address the root causes of fragility before crises emerge or intensify. Finally, in the same spirit, the Doha Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development recognizes the mutually reinforcing relationship between social development, social justice, and peace and security. This declaration also highlights the importance of full and productive employment, decent work, and social cohesion in building resilient societies. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, excellencies, the world of work is very critical and makes unique contributions to building not only resilient societies but sustaining peace. Thank you very much for your attention.

I thank Cynthia Samuel Olong'won for her statement. This body bears the ILO is advancing a goal which is something which we share, that jobs need to be decent in nature. But when it's decent, it's more important. It is in the dignity of labor that the difference is established between mere absence of war and a real peace. I will now give the floor to Madam Maria Dimitrioudou.

Thank you very much, Ambassadors Tapa and Kilale. Really great to be here, and I'm really pleased as well to be next to partners, and I think next to my sister Cynthia definitely reflects a lot of our strong partnership with ILO. Let me start with creating more and better jobs as an overarching framework that we have put in the World Bank Group to address poverty. This requires investment in physical infrastructure as well as in human capital. This is foundational infrastructure. It requires building an enabling environment for the private sector to be able to grow and for companies to be able to grow and invest, and it requires mobilizing private capital. Now, we know that creating jobs—more and better jobs in fragile conflict and violence-affected environments remains exceptionally challenging, and this is for many reasons: insecurity, weak institutions, limited access to finance, infrastructure deficits, and volatile business environments that often constrain investment and private sector development. Yet sustainable employment at scale depends on a vibrant private sector. This is why particular attention must be given to micro and small and medium enterprises, which represent the largest sources of employment and economic activity. Delivering on the Jobs Agenda in fragile conflict and violence-affected situations is also a key priority of the refreshed FCB strategy of the World Bank Group, which was launched at the Fragility Forum earlier this month, and we were very honored to have many of you, many of our partners and you, in Washington in contributing, in deepening shared knowledge and understanding on these topics. The focus of our pillar on job creation in FCV spaces is on supporting private sector development for job creation, including by promoting private investment, both domestic and foreign direct investment where possible, in job-rich sectors, including through flagship initiatives we have launched, for example, the M300 aiming to provide access to electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, and AgriConnect, moving people from subsidence to agribusiness, but also supporting domestic micro, small, and medium enterprises to sustain jobs and provide essential goods and services and lay a foundation for future private investment opportunities. Now, on the very important question of how job creation initiatives can be designed and implemented to effectively strengthen social cohesion in conflict-affected contexts. Job creation can support social cohesion when it is inclusive, conflict-sensitive, and anchored in local realities. I'm building on the excellent points that Cynthia has made. Jobs alone do not create peace, though, but when designed well, they can help reduce exclusion, restore confidence, and strengthen the social and economic foundations on which peace can endure. So job creation initiatives must be designed with inclusion at their core. Exclusion is often one of the drivers of grievance and mistrust in these settings. And if job programs are seen to benefit only certain groups, regions, or networks, they can reinforce tensions rather than reduce them. This means that targeting matters. It means paying close attention to who is being reached, who is being left out, and that opportunities are created and distributed across communities. This is particularly important for young people, for women, and for communities that have been marginalized or directly affected by violence. In many fragile settings, these groups are not only economically excluded, they are also socially included— excluded. Well-designed job initiatives can help address both the economic and social dimensions by creating pathways to participation, dignity, and ultimately hope. So job initiatives must be grounded— grounded in a clear understanding of the context. In conflict-affected environments, there is no silver bullet. There is no one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on the local political economy, the nature of conflict, the capacity of institutions, and the structure of the labor market. What matters is interventions that are designed in— are not designed in isolation from the realities of conflict. They must be informed by local knowledge, by understanding of risks and grievances, and by close engagement with communities themselves. Now, allow me to also refer to the importance of strengthening trust alongside livelihoods. Social cohesion is not only about employment numbers, It is also about whether people feel that institutions are fair, that opportunities are accessible, and that progress is shared. This is why implementation matters as much as design. Programs that are transparent, locally grounded, and responsive can help build confidence between citizens and institutions. Programs that bring communities together around shared economic opportunities can help rebuild relationships across lines of this— of division, and programs that are linked to broader efforts in service delivery, governance, and resilience are more likely to have lasting impact. And this is where partnerships across complementary mandates and strengths that the World Bank Group, the United Nations, governments, civil society, local actors, and the private sector can bring together in practical ways that support national priorities and respond to local realities. To conclude, ladies and gentlemen, creating more and better jobs and economic opportunity is not only about growth. It is also about reducing vulnerability, strengthening resilience, helping societies move from fragility towards stability. It is therefore central to central building, not peripheral. At the World Bank Group, we remain committed and ready to continue working with all our partners to advance this agenda. Thank you.

Je remercie Madame— I thank Ms. Maria Dimitriadou for her presentation. The World Bank reminds us of a truth that nobody can deny, and that is that there is no lasting peace without the means to back the ambitions. By channeling financing to the most fragile contexts and advocating, betting for small, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises where others only see risk, international financial institutions cannot just invest in economies, they must also invest in stability itself. I now give the floor to Mr. Roland Formundum.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and fellow panelists, accept warm greetings from Africa, and thank you for having me. I've listened to the previous speakers. I am really, really happy and delighted to be a part of this because it makes me believe that we have been on the right path. Too often discussions about fragility focus on what communities lack. Yet in many fragile regions, the challenge is not a lack of potential. It is a lack of pathways that transform potential into opportunity. 17 years ago, after completing my education in Boston, Massachusetts, I returned to Cameroon with a mission to create those pathways through rural agricultural development. I believe that agriculture could become a powerful driver of economic inclusion, creating sustainable livelihoods while addressing many of the conditions that contribute to instability. Today, my company Greenhouse Ventures Group We have built an ecosystem that combines agricultural training, modern finance, rural finance, and digital technology to help farmers manage risk, improve productivity, and access markets and finance, thereby providing high-quality food at affordable prices to every consumer. Since our inception in 2013, we have trained more than 7,000 people, men and women, young folks, in the domain of modern agricultural production and agribusiness, many of whom have gone to establish farms, create businesses, and generate employment in their own communities. We've also supported the installation of more than 2,000 greenhouse units across Cameroon and expanded our work into 7 African countries, demonstrating that locally led solutions scale across borders. Our success has been driven by a simple but holistic approach, a community-driven model that fosters collaboration and shared prosperity. First, we create economic opportunities through agricultural value chains, cooperatives, and rural enterprises. Second, we create access to finance through cooperative-based financial systems and innovative social collateral models. We have helped previously excluded farmers become bankable and invest in productive activities. Third, we create access to markets By linking farmers directly to buyers, securing offtake agreements with supermarkets, food processors, factories, and institutional buyers, we reduce uncertainty and create more stable incomes. Fourth, we leverage technology. Through AgroCycle, we use satellite monitoring and data-driven insights to help farmers detect risk early improve productivity, and strengthen resilience. Our work also contributed to import substitution by enabling commercial-scale production of crops such as tomatoes, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and more, thereby creating— national food security. Our goal is simple: to move people from subsistence to surplus and ultimately to enterprise. Because when people move from dependency to productivity, they become stakeholders in stability, contributors to economic growth, and partners in sustaining peace. As we look to the future, our greatest challenge is no longer proving that these models work, The challenge is scaling them to meet the growing demand from vulnerable rural communities. We envision rural communities equipped with tractors, warehouses, digital monitoring systems, and cooperative financial institutions. Together, these systems build resilience, strengthen local economies, retain youth, and foster long-term stability. As development partners, governments, financial institutions, and the United Nations consider pathways towards peacebuilding, we encourage greater investments in locally led solutions that empower communities to become architects of their own prosperity and stability. We have learned that while fragile communities may differ in geography, Many share similar challenges, and many of the solutions can be adapted and replicated across contexts. In every fragile community where we have worked, we have seen the same truth: people gain access to opportunities, they choose hope over despair, cooperation over conflict, and resilience over risk. The future of peacebuilding would be achieved by empowering people to build livelihoods, create businesses, feed their communities, and participate meaningfully in economic life. Peace is strongest when people can see a future for themselves, and resilience is even stronger when communities have the tools, opportunities, and institutions to shape that future. We are proud of our work in the various communities of Cameroon and beyond, have proven that change is possible and it is feasible. We stand ready to partner with you all here represented today to scale and replicate these models wherever they can help build resilient, prosperous, and peaceful communities. Thank you very much for having me. I will look forward to working together with you all.

Je vous remercie, Monsieur Roland. I thank Mr. Roland for his presentation, and I'd like to particularly welcome him and applaud him for joining us all the way from Cameroon, which goes to show, if ever we needed to show it, that good ideas are not restricted to borders. Behind each job created, there is an entrepreneur who has dared to try, a land that is providing its fruits, and youth choosing the future rather than exile and violence. So thank you. I now give the floor to Madame Geneviève Riccobini.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to address you today, which is also on behalf of the Women's Major Group, a global network of 1,500 feminist civil society organizations. We really welcome this discussion about peacebuilding and decent work because from a feminist perspective, it is crucial to use economic policy to address the root causes of conflict, violence, and injustice, including gender injustice. Many of the crises in our world today, including record levels of armed conflict and the climate and ecological crisis, have been shaped by an economic system that values and enables unsustainable growth, extraction, and accumulation of wealth over people and planet. And many of the barriers to achieving decent work for women rooted in patriarchal systems and norms are consistent around the world. These include things that we know, such as gender pay gaps, labor market segregation, informality, lack of access to finance, denial of land rights, and lack of protections. Over 600 million women live in close proximity to conflict. And globally, ILO research from a few years ago shows that people perform 16.4 billion hours of unpaid care work a day, and women carry out 76% of that labor. So when thinking about what societies need in order to survive and rebuild from armed conflict, this social reproduction is especially important. Women care for children, the elderly, and disabled people, mediate local disputes, defend land and human rights, teach, and provide essential counseling and psychosocial support. This undervalued labor that sustains life, families, ecosystems, and societies is an integral part of social cohesion and conflict prevention. Around the world, women are already doing this work. In Ukraine, for example, Russia's full-scale invasion sparked a surge in solidarity among Ukrainians, where Ukrainian women have filled the gaps of austerity and taken on added unpaid and underpaid burdens of domestic care and social work, including at tremendous personal toll. In Afghanistan, Generations of armed conflict and collapsed social infrastructure mean that women are forced to absorb the costs and labor into their households and informal networks. The Taliban's regime of gender apartheid might be formally blocking them from employment and public life, but this has not changed the fact that on the ground, their labor is what is keeping Afghan society afloat. In Colombia, with widespread violence against human rights defenders and social leaders, women are creating feminist spaces for care, healing, and empowerment of women in conflict-affected territories, caring for those who care for others. Therefore, unpaid care work must be recognized as essential social and economic infrastructure and redistributed through investment in public care systems and social protection. Some of the most gender-equal societies in our world invest heavily in care, and international development aid must support these care systems in conflicts of— in contexts of conflict and fragility and must support the women and feminist movements to continue this work on their own terms. Feminists have historically critiqued approaches that impose things such as privatization, austerity, and fiscal restraint while assuming that women will fill the gaps with our labor. The private sector, including public-private partnerships, is not a full substitute for universal public systems, and global justice such as tax justice, reduction and redirection of military spending, and cancellation of unjust debt is vital for creating the necessary fiscal space to fund these programs. It's also necessary to look at the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and participation in decision-making, including economic decision-making, including over jobs and employment. Women are still systematically excluded from peace and political processes, but in today's evolving mediation landscape, trends towards transactionalism and narrow deal-making, as well as impunity for grave violations of international law, are opening the door for further exclusion and potential potential economic exploitation, which risks further cycles of violence and conflict. This is being reinforced by anti-gender backlash and rising authoritarianism. So having the opportunity to discuss these things together, we know historically what has not worked and how many armed conflicts have been rooted in factors such as land dispossession, colonialism, neocolonialism, the extraction of wealth. And to this end, a favorable investment in trade climate does not necessarily imply favorable conditions for social cohesion and peace. Job creation programs cannot advance social cohesion if they are in sectors where the profits are entirely flowing abroad and where industries are creating further harm for ecosystems and for communities. So therefore, um, our view is that conflict prevention cannot just be achieved through technical fixes or by merely expanding women's access to markets, but I think we're all in agreement that this is through working alongside communities to design economies that work for them. So some of the things that we hope to, to underscore in this regard include the full and meaningful participation of women and communities in economic planning and in peace and security decision-making, enforcement of labor rights in line with ILO standards and conventions, including in relation to equal pay, the right to organize and collective bargaining and freedom of association, and eliminating gender-based violence in the world of work, and investing in the public sector and in universal gender-responsive social protection, including through the recognition of unpaid care work as essential economic infrastructure. I thank you.

Je remercie Madame Geneviève Ricoboni. I thank Miss Geneviève Ricoboni for her presentation. Madam, your voice is essential here because your voice is— right from the ground, from the grassroots. It's the voice of the communities on behalf of who and for whom we are working. So civil society reminds us that we must never lose sight of them. Social cohesion cannot only be measured in figures, job creation figures, but also in terms of the people that we must not forget, the most vulnerable, youth, women, and those that the statistics often leave behind. I'd now like to give the floor back to my co-chair. Sir, you have the floor.

Thank you, Ambassador Hilali, the Chair of the PBC, and Excellencies, distinguished delegates. We will now proceed to the interactive discussion. Delegations wishing to request the floor should press the microphone button on their console now. I kindly request the speaker to observe the announced time limits of 5 minutes for the statement on behalf of a group of states, and 3 minutes for interventions by individual delegations. The microphone will be automatically muted when the allotted speaking time has elapsed. Please also note that the light on the microphone will start blinking 30 seconds before the time time limit is up. I thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. To ensure proper interpretations, delegations are asked to speak at a normal pace and to provide a written copy of their statement by email to e-statements@un.org. With this, of Guyana, and who is speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community. Guyana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. I thank the President of ECOSOC and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for convening this important meeting. Young people are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building peaceful, prosperous societies. Yet across our region, too many are being left behind. In 2024, youth unemployment in the Caribbean, excluding Haiti, stood at 17.6%, nearly 4 times the adult unemployment rate. When Haiti is included, youth employment rises dramatically to 30.5%, exceeding levels recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young women face even greater challenges, with unemployment rates 1.6 times higher than those for young men. Many remain trapped in low-productivity, informal, and insecure jobs, conditions that undermine long-term growth and social cohesion. The situation in Haiti is particularly alarming. The country continues to grapple with successive economic shocks, unprecedented insecurity driven by gang violence, and a humanitarian crisis affecting more than 6.4 million people, more than half the population. Nearly 45% of Haiti's population is under the age of 18. For many young Haitians, poverty, hunger, displacement, and lack of educational and economic opportunities create fertile ground for gang recruitment. When legitimate opportunities disappear, Criminal networks step in to fill the void. Excellencies, creating sustainable jobs is therefore not only an economic necessity, it is a peacebuilding imperative. Decent work provides income, dignity, purpose, and hope. It strengthens communities, reduces vulnerability to violence, and offers young people a viable alternative to to gang involvement. CARICOM therefore welcomes the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund project being implemented by the International Labour Organization on youth, agroecology, and green jobs in Haiti's Grand Anse region. Through skills training, entrepreneurship development, and support for microenterprises, this initiative is equipping young people with the tools to build livelihoods and contribute positively to their communities. We also welcome the recent signing of the 2-year country program between the government of Haiti and the International Labour Organization, which places particular emphasis on employment opportunities for youth and women, as well as support for internally displaced young persons and workers in the informal economy. These interventions are especially important because they align with the broader regional direction articulated by our own CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan, which provides a regional framework for advancing youth empowerment, resilience, inclusion, and social cohesion across the community. This plan allows CARICOM to situate youth employment not only as an economic issue, but also as a matter of stability, protection, participation, and long-term peacebuilding, particularly in crisis and conflict-affected settings. In this regard, Haiti has also benefited in the past from our aspiring youth Empowerment Program and the Creativity for Employment and Business Opportunity Program, both of which support young people's entrepreneurial capacity, life skills, social and emotional development, and livelihood readiness. However, there are presently no resources available to support implementation. We would therefore welcome the support of the International community. CARICOM also remains deeply appreciative of the support of the United Nations system. We look forward to continued collaboration through the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Haiti, particularly the shared objective of creating resilient livelihoods and diversified employment opportunities. We welcome

I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana speaking on behalf of the Caribbean community. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Croatia, to be followed by Mozambique, Angola, Armenia, and Dominican Republic.

Mr. President of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. Madam Chair of the PBC, Madam Assistant Secretary General, thank you for convening this joint meeting and thanks to all the briefers and panelists. Exchanges like this strengthen cooperation between our two bodies and improve coherence for the people we serve. Ladies and gentlemen, job creation is central to prevention, peacebuilding, and building resilience because economic pressure is often the root cause of instability, as we all know. Resilience starts with expanding economic choices. Jobs provide dignity, stability, and a stake in peace. In fragile settings, unemployment, especially among youth, fuels frustration, exclusion, and mistrust. It weakens institutions and heightens risks. This is why job creation— it must anchor national prevention strategies. Effective strategies link risk analysis with real economic options. They identify who is most at risk, understand local markets, and target investment where job can ease tensions and inclusion is essential in that regard. Early warning systems should also track labor market stress so responses come before grievances deepen. Action must be early and sustained. In Croatia, job creation played a central stabilizing role in Croatia's own post-conflict reconstruction after our Homeland War and the liberation of our occupied territories, helping communities recover economically, socially, and psychologically. The reintegration of veterans through employment programs, return and reconstruction in war-affected areas, through the rebuilding and return of displaced persons, and targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the empowerment of women and as well as youth employment, with emphasis on vocational training, is essential in rebuilding the social fabric. Now, the Peacebuilding Commission can advance this agenda by aligning political support financing and expertise behind nationally-led job creation priorities. It promotes joint risk analysis, inclusive economic policies and catalytic funding for visible livelihood gains in high-risk areas. ECOSOC complements this by shaping global economic and social policies, supporting sustainable financing and ensuring UN development programmes integrate job skills and inclusion into national planning. Finally, the goal is clear: move from risk to resilience by giving people meaningful economic choices. Jobs build hope, hope builds cohesion, cohesion builds peace. Croatia remains committed to this. I thank you.

I thank the Director-General of Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Croatia for his statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, co-chairs, Mozambique welcomes the convening of this session marking the inaugural Peacebuilding Week at a moment of particular significance—20 years since the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund. Peacebuilding is not only about managing crisis after they erupt. It is about addressing the structural drivers of conflict before they deepen, such as exclusion, unemployment, inequality, weak institutions, climate vulnerability, food insecurity, and the absence of opportunity. Mr. President, this is why the joint focus of ECOSOC and the PBC on moving from risk to resilience through social cohesion and job creation is so important. In many peacebuilding contexts, unemployment, especially among youth and women, is not merely an economic challenge. It can become a source of grievance, alienation, and instability. Conversely, decent work, access to skills, finance, entrepreneurship, and local markets can become instruments of dignity, trust, and reconciliation. Progress on SDG 8 remains uneven. Youth unemployment, informality, and labor rights deficits persist, and these gaps are widely precisely in the fragile and conflict-affected setting this meeting is focused on. Closing them requires the public and private sectors to act together—governments providing enabling policy and regulatory frameworks, and private sector, particularly MSMEs, providing investment, innovation, and jobs. The PBC has a unique convening role. ECOSOC has a unique mandate to guide development cooperation and SDG implementation. Together, they can ensure that peacebuilding is not treated as a separate track, but as an integral part of sustainable development. Mr. President, Mozambique sees three practical shifts as essential. First, a stronger country-level coherence so that peacebuilding and development planning reinforce rather than duplicate one another; second, predictable and flexible financing, including through the Peacebuilding Fund, international financial institutions, and the private sector; and finally, greater investment in youth, women, MSMEs, and local institutions, because resilience is built closest to communities. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Mozambique. Now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Australia who is speaking on behalf of the MIKTA.

Thank you so much, President, and as you mentioned, I'm pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of MIKTA—Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Australia. It's particularly timely that this joint meeting takes place during the inaugural Peacebuilding Week. Bringing together the UN Peacebuilding Commission and ECOSOC reinforces that there can be no peace without sustainable development and respect for human rights. Close cooperation across the UN's three pillars is essential to addressing the root causes of conflict. Colleagues, the MiGTA Group offers three reflections today. First, advancing inclusive job creation must be central to our efforts to prevent conflict, build stability, and sustain peace. Lack of access to decent work, particularly for women and youth, is a key driver of instability. Conversely, inclusive and sustainable employment and economic development opportunities support families, restore dignity, and foster trust between communities and institutions. Institutions. Expanding economic opportunities is therefore not only a development imperative, but a peace-building priority. Second, we reaffirm our support to strengthening the United Nations peace-building and development architectures, including through adequate, predictable, and sustained financing. More must be done to ensure coherence and strategic alignment within the UN system, as well as between peace-building and development actors on the ground. This includes better aligning political, development, and financing tools to support nationally-led priorities, including to support job creation and inclusive economic recovery. ECOSOC, the Peacebuilding Commission, Peacebuilding Fund, and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinators all have distinct but important roles to play in bridging these efforts. They play complementary roles in providing expertise, mobilizing support, and ensuring that peacebuilding and development approaches are coherent and mutually reinforcing. Strengthening the resident and humanitarian coordinator systems through UNAID reforms will be critical to improve coherence and better align the UN's work with national and regional priorities. Third, we emphasize the importance of conflict prevention as a shared and continuous responsibility. Effective prevention requires sustained investment across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.. In this regard, voluntary nationally-led conflict prevention strategies are an important tool for aligning support for national efforts, including through policies that promote inclusion, opportunity, and resilience, and reduce vulnerabilities to radicalization and violence by expanding access to education, fair employment, and development. And while we make all efforts to prevent conflict, MIKTA countries are also committed to protecting those who protect others. And as signatories to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, we are taking practical action to ensure greater respect for and protection of those who protect others. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Australia speaking on behalf of the MICTA Group. Now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Angola.

Mr. President, thank you for giving me the floor. Angola welcomes the convening of this joint meeting between ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission and thanks the organizers for highlighting a topic that lies at the heart of sustainable development and sustaining peace: advancing social cohesion through job creation. For Angola, job creation is not only an economic priority. It is a pathway from risk to resilience. Decent work promotes inclusion, dignity and opportunity, enabling individuals—particularly young people—to contribute to their communities and participate meaningfully in the national development. In doing so, it strengthens social cohesion and helps address vulnerabilities that can undermine peace and stability. As a country that emerged in 2002 from nearly 3 decades of conflict and with a predominantly young population, Angola recognizes that investing in youth is essential to building peaceful, resilient and inclusive societies. Employment, skills development and entrepreneurship therefore remain central to our development and peacebuilding efforts. In recent years, Angola has invested in strengthening human capital, expanding social protection, and promoting local economic development. Programs such as Kwenda, Angola's largest direct cash transfer initiative, established to address poverty through systematic social protection, demonstrates that the value of linking social protection with economic inclusion, particularly for vulnerable households, and communities. We are also advancing economic diversification and regional connectivity. The Lubito Corridor, for example, is creating jobs, stimulating local economic activity, and strengthening regional integration while generating tangible development dividends. Angola's experience demonstrates that sustainable peace, development, and social cohesion are mutually reinforcing. Employment strategies in peacebuilding contexts must therefore invest in skills, empower women and youth, support entrepreneurship, and enable small businesses to thrive. As we advance the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063, we must continue to place people at the centre of our efforts. By expanding access to decent work and economic opportunity, we can build more inclusive, cohesive, and resilient societies. I thank you.

Je remercie l'Ambassadeur Représentant. I thank the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Angola for his statement. I now give the floor to the Ambassador and PR of Armenia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. President. As Vice Presidency of ECOSOC and a member of Peacebuilding Commission, Armenia welcomes this joint meeting. The 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review Twin Resolutions reaffirm the value of strengthened ECOSOC-PBC cooperation in accordance with their respective mandates. We believe such regular exchanges can contribute to a more coherent approach to sustaining peace. Their colleagues in conflict-affected settings and employment, underemployment, and economic exclusion can deepen grievances, erode trust in institutions, and undermine social cohesion. Addressing these risks requires sustained investment in inclusive economic opportunities and decent work. We place particular emphasis on youth and women, who are often disproportionately affected. By exclusion, yet remain indispensable agents of recovery, cohesion, and peace. Employment-focused peacebuilding efforts should therefore prioritize skills development, entrepreneurship, and economic participation. Armenia recognizes that women— full participation in economic and public life is essential for building inclusive and peaceful societies. Through its gender policy strategy and national action, Plan, Armenia promotes women's economic empowerment and leadership while supporting resilience, including in border and refugee hosting communities. Armenia implements targeted employment programs for displaced persons. More than 20,000 of them are currently engaged in formal employment, supporting both livelihoods and social inclusion. We underscored the importance of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises as drivers of job creation and local development and stressed the need for stronger partnership among government, international financial institutions, the UN system and local stakeholders. We also believe that education, skills development and employment opportunities are mutually reinforcing investments in prevention and sustaining peace. Earlier this month, the Armenia-initiated GA resolution "Education for Peace" was adopted by consensus and co-sponsored by around 100 Member States. Finally, we believe that job creation should be viewed not only as economic objective, but also as an investment in prevention, recovery, and sustaining peace. We encourage the UN system to continue supporting nationally owned and coordinated approaches that link employment and resilience while responding to the specific needs of communities on the ground. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative for his statement, and I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic. República Dominicana.

The Dominican Republic thanks you for organizing this Joint Meeting. To discuss a premise that we wish to take up ourselves also, there is no lasting peace without economic opportunity, social cohesion, or decent work. In context of protracted conflict, unemployment, and a lack of perspectives, especially for youth and women, these things can turn into a source of grievances and— a cause of instability. Among their consequences, there's one that we are particularly concerned about: the recruitment of children and youth by armed groups. Where we see poverty and a lack of opportunities, we are seeing the most vulnerable being pushed to armed groups who offer them an environment that they can't get elsewhere: income, protection, and identity and belonging. Recruiting a child is easy. When there are no other alternatives. Children are victims above all and must be treated as such, prioritizing rehabilitation above punishment. However, tackling this is not enough if there isn't an alternative. What they need is education, technical professional training, and a pathway for a decent income, a competitive income in real terms. Competitive to what arms group— armed groups can offer. Employment is the best strategy for prevention and reintegration, and Recommendation 205 of the ILO establishes that decent work must be included during the very first moments when we are responding to crises. On this basis, we propose three lines of action: linking reintegration of youth to programs and professional training, like in Haiti, in 2026. UNICEF warned in February that recruitment of children by armed groups increased close to 200% in 2025, and that 30 to 50% of the members of these groups are children, some only just 9 years old. The joint report of BINU and the High Commissioner for the United Nations for Human Rights in February 2026 recommends a comprehensive strategy to strengthen schools as spaces that protect young people and that— an expansion of professional training and youth employment. We support security and we believe that security is essential. However, security without development does not break the cycle. It simply just delays things. The Dominican Republic reiterates its commitment, its solidarity to the Haitian people and to a response that places children and youth at the center. The stability of a country in conflict is also the stability of its region, and we cannot build a better future with security alone. We can only build it by providing each child and each young person with alternatives for the future—

and the speaker's microphone was cut off.

The chair thanks the Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic and gives the floor now to the Ambassador and DPR of Colombia.

Gracias, señor presidente. Un saludo cordial. Thank you, Chair. My warmest regards to the top table. Madam Spehar, our regards and our gratitude to all of you and our greetings on this important week. In particular, this morning at this event where we are seeing joint dialogue between ECOSOC and PBC. We're aware that peace, development, and human rights are intrinsically linked to one another. In Colombia, experience has shown that lasting peace requires us to transform the root causes of conflict, the structural causes— inequality, exclusion, poverty, and a lack of opportunities. Where we see gaps, we see a weakening of social cohesion and the right conditions for violence and lapsing back into conflict. That's why for Colombia, decent jobs, in particular for young people, is not just an issue of economic development, but rather a preventive policy also. Providing economic opportunities is tantamount to strengthening the resilience of our communities and reducing vulnerabilities to recruitment, criminality, and other forms of violence that we see in our country. Expanding opportunities for youth is one of the most effective tools of prevention in both our country as well as elsewhere in the world. Programs such as Income for Youth and Youth and Peace can break cycles of poverty and violence through access to education, conditions transferred, and support for labor integration. What's more, the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization in Colombia has established schemes for economic reintegration for more than 100,000 signatories of the peace agreement with productive projects, employability, and income as a basis for stabilization and for the building of what we call territorial peace. Colombia's experience, Chairman, has shown that providing projects of life and inclusion, education, and employment reduces the risk of recruitment and being linked to the illegal economy in particular. In regions affected by violence. Colombia reaffirms its conviction, and we call on the United Nations to talk about peace, not war. And to talk about peace implies also talking about social justice, inclusion, opportunities, and dignity as the essential conditions required in order to sustain them. Thank you very much, Chair.

Je remercie. I thank the Permanent Representative of Colombia and the Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia, and I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union to be, uh, to, uh, speak on behalf of 80 states, members of the European Union and aligned states.

Thank you, Chairs, Excellencies. I'm delivering the statements on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The following countries also align themselves with this statement: North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, as well as Armenia. Chairs, employment is a key factor for stabilization, integration, reintegration and social cohesion. We therefore welcome today's joint session on this important topic. Today's discussion during the first ever Peacebuilding Week underscores the vital role of sustaining economic opportunities as a cornerstone of lasting peace. The Peacebuilding Week is a clear and visible result of last year's Peacebuilding Architecture Review in this regard. Job creation, social cohesion, and economic development are key parts of successful peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Without them, fragility is certain to increase, posing an acute and systemic challenge that extends beyond the impacted region. Indeed, fragilities, if left unaddressed, carries direct consequences for international stability, security, and development. This message is also part of the EU's approach to include— including the recently adopted Council conclusions on a coherent approach to fragility. Cheers. Investing in economic development, addressing the key drivers of conflict and building resilience, also by including women and youth, are at the heart of our preventive approach to fragility and efforts to support sustaining peace. Without decent jobs and fair incomes, fragility deepens and causes for conflict widen. Jobs, Jobs are not just an economic priority; they are central to stability, dignity, and hope, especially for young people. To foster this, the EU has a joint operational approach to post-crisis assessments and recovery planning with the UN and the World Bank. Workforce considerations are an essential component, particularly in highly affected sectors from disasters or crises—for example, water sector, infrastructure, agriculture, education and health. One of the priorities is to assist people in swiftly ensuring income by creating livelihood opportunities. The EU also continues to be the world's largest provider of official development assistance, representing 48% of global ODA in 2025, and specifically supports peace, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and mediation activities as key contributors for reducing— for fragility, strengthening resilience, and contribute to prevent conflict and sustain peace. Finally, let me recall that in the current volatile world of unprecedented challenges and crises, the EU will continue to steadfastly support peacebuilding and sustaining peace as a key part of our support to multilateralism. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union for this statement, and I give the floor now to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Thank you. I thank the President of ECOSOC and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for convening this important discussion on the role of job creation in strengthening social cohesion and sustaining peace. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, unemployment and underemployment, particularly among youth and women, are not only economic challenges. They can also deepen exclusion, grievances, and vulnerabilities. Creating decent and inclusive employment opportunities is therefore not simply a development priority. It is an investment in conflict prevention, resilience, and lasting peace. It is in this regard that the government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with International Labor Organization, has launched the Sierra Leone Labor Market Information System, a real-time platform revolutionizing job tracking and workforce planning. The private sector must also be recognized as a key partner in peacebuilding. Governments can provide enabling policy frameworks and stability, while businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises can drive innovation, investment, and job creation. Strengthening public-private partnerships will therefore be critical to expanding opportunities in fragile context and ensuring that growth is inclusive. At the same time, international cooperation must become more integrated. Peacebuilding, development, and the humanitarian effort should work together to address the root causes of fragility and ensure that investments translate into sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion. In this regard, we wish to pose 3 questions for reflection. First, how can we better integrate employment creation into peacebuilding strategies so that economic exclusion is addressed as a driver of conflict and instability? Second, how can governments, international partners, and the private sector scale up opportunities for youth, women, and small and medium-sized enterprises in fragile and conflict-affected settings? Third, how can we ensure that employment programmes measure success not only by jobs created, but by their contribution to trust, inclusion and lasting peace? The pathway from risk to resilience requires that people have the opportunity

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. Now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Brazil, to be followed by El Salvador, Kenya, Russian Federation, and Germany.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sustaining peace requires a holistic view with sustained development at its center. Decent work, inclusive growth, and reduced inequalities are not mere economic objectives. They are tools of social cohesion, institutional strength and thus of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. SDG 8 remains central. Public policies must combine growth with dignity. Peacebuilding and prevention strategies should address causes and drivers of conflict, including lack of access to labour markets and employment, education, health, public services and housing. The inclusion of women and youth as agents of development and peace is key. Peacebuilding must address barriers that prevent women, youth and vulnerable groups from formal employment, income and entrepreneurship. Decent work is also key. Labour inspection, protection of fundamental rights, the fight against child labour and forced labour, and the prevention of any form of slavery and human trafficking are central to inclusive growth. Formal contracts, Safe conditions and respect for rights are foundations of sustainable peace. Brazil values the role of micro and small businesses in generating jobs and income. Instruments such as the Individual Microentrepreneur framework, simplified taxation, easier access to credit, support for family farming, and the More Productive Brazil program improve formalization and sustainability in our country. Neoindústria Brasil is another instrument for combining industrial development, innovation, sustainability, decent work and socio-economic inclusion. Such initiatives, ready to be shared, could be emulated by countries willing to prevent conflict or sustain peace. Income policy is equally important. Strengthening families' economic power reduces poverty and promotes inclusive economic growth. Many countries go along with Brazil in prioritizing the fight against inequality, hunger and poverty. That's why we launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, now a vast coalition of countries, international institutions and the private sector, which can become an important instrument in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Finally, the catalytic effect of the Peacebuilding Fund can benefit projects that facilitate access to work, and improve livelihoods. Successful PBF projects may become pilot ventures for investments from IFIs and MDBs. Mr. Chair, the ECOSOC and the PBC working in synergy can help ensure that peacebuilding and conflict prevention produce success stories that will be emulated by a greater number of countries if their strategies are nationally owned, inclusive, and economically and socially sustainable. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Brazil. Now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of El Salvador.

Gracias. Thank you, President. We thank you for convening this joint meeting of ECOSOC and the PBC, and we appreciate the presentations provided by the panelists this morning. For my country, this discussion is a very concrete one. We know from our own experience that peace cannot only be sustained thanks to the absence of violence. Peace is also built when people, especially youth, have real opportunities to study, to work, to start a business, or participate in the economic life of their communities, and to be able to project a better future for themselves. From this perspective, the Youth Peace and Security Agenda must occupy a central position in our discussions on development prevention and peacebuilding. Youth should not only be seen as beneficiaries of programs, but rather agents for transformation, innovation, and social cohesion. Investing in youth is also investing in prevention, trust in institutions, and more resilient communities. Among the efforts being undertaken by the government tells of El Salvador. We have the Opportunities Program that facilitates connections, links between persons that are looking for jobs and companies that need human talent. We also have the Up Digital Program that's geared towards youth between 18 and 35 years of age with skills in tech, prioritizing the sectors that require the most opportunities, including, um, persons with disabilities, returned migrants, and persons that are in the process of their social reintegration. We can also underscore, um, SMEs and their role in providing opportunities. Through the Konami program, we have promoted spaces for training for youth entrepreneurs, including using generative AI to optimize processes. However, um, these youth— the creation of youth employment cannot be addressed in isolation. It requires training, digital inclusion, support for entrepreneurship, access to markets, alliances with the private sector, and sensible public policies that are sensitive to the needs of those that face the highest barriers. In this regard, we have received support to boost our national efforts to strengthen social cohesion and also inclusion prevention. And we believe that it's essential to ensure the strengthening continuity and predictability of the Peacebuilding Fund, which we've benefited from. If we really want the PBC to be able to effectively support countries, especially in prevention, youth employment, and resilience, we need to have adequate, flexible, and sustainable financial resources. Co-chairs, the full version of our statement will be shared with all delegations, in particular some concrete recommendations that we have on these points. We'll share that in writing. Thank you very much.

I thank the Permanent Representative of El Salvador. Now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Kenya.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank you and the PBC Chair for convening this important discussion and for putting together a great panel. Across conflict-affected and fragile settings, unemployment and employment and exclusion Economic exclusion continues to undermine prospects for lasting peace and sustainable development. And in contexts where economic opportunities are limited, they elicit a deeper sense of grievance, weaken trust in institutions, and widen social divisions, whereas conversely, decent work provides dignity, agency, and a sense of belonging. Employment initiatives that are designed inclusively and implemented in a conflict-sensitive manner help address underlying drivers of instability and contribute to social cohesion, resilience, gender equality, poverty reduction, and ultimately the sustaining of peace. The private sector, especially MSMEs, play a pivotal role in job creation in fragile settings, and yet these businesses face limited finance, weak infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles. Unlocking their potential is key to growth, stability, and resilience. From a peacebuilding perspective, employment programs are most effective when they reflect local realities, align skills with market demand, expand access to financial services for underserved groups, and create a business-friendly environment, and involve communities as partners in designing solutions. To make these lessons have a greater impact, we propose the following 3 things. First, strengthening international cooperation and policy coordination across the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus. Through a whole-of-society approach while emphasizing investments behind nationally owned priorities. Second, creating enabling environments for sustainable job creation that respond to local economic realities while placing women and the youth at the center of employment strategies. And third and finally, scaling up innovative approaches that combine skills, access to finance, and social dialogue, including digital employment platforms, green jobs initiatives, social enterprises, and blended finance mechanisms. Kenya calls for a unified approach that enables the transition from risk to resilience by advancing opportunity, dignity, and inclusion for all. Mr. President will also be sharing our detailed statement. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Kenya. Now I give the floor to the distinguished Representative of Russian Federation.

We wish to thank the Presidents of ECOSOC and PBC for organizing this event. Decent work and economic growth are among the most significant factors for stability and prosperity of any state. It is important for employment to guarantee able-bodied populations with sufficient income and social protection for their families, as well as safety in their places of work, opportunities for personal development, and integration into society. Without this, the very fact of having a job will not help to facilitate social cohesion. On the contrary, this is liable to create dissatisfaction and to worsen inequality in society— another area that requires appropriate attention by states in conflict or in post-conflict recovery stages is combating poverty, illiteracy, and youth unemployment. Against the backdrop of complicated living conditions in certain countries, fertile ground is created for the spread of extremist ideology and radicalization of society. Naturally, these phenomena are something which people of any age may be affected by, but young people with their inchoate worldviews and in the absence sense of opportunities for self-realization, they are the most vulnerable people in the face of radical ideology, most susceptible there to— another challenge which is frequently— goes hand in hand with conflict is a growth of displaced persons. When there is a growing burden on economic and social infrastructure, the need to provide this category population with decent jobs is viewed as one of the key factors for greater stability and for preventing social tensions. We believe that progress on the whole gamut of sustainable development goals, not just in the area of individual ones, is an important factor for the reduction of potential for conflict in countries with political instability. In this context, we see a significant role that can be played by the private sector, small and medium-sized businesses, in conditions when official development assistance is reduced and when the largest economies increasingly focus on their own priorities, the most realistic means of delivering support to these countries is expediting technology transfer— technologies which help to mobilize domestic resources and to bring together the efforts of the state, private sector, development partners, local financial institutions. Russia has plat— platform-based digital technologies for taxation and banking services for small and medium entrepreneurship. And we propose partnerships to pool and coordinate efforts with other modern economies on the basis of the South-South cooperation model and to begin the process of transfer of digital platforms of small, medium-sized businesses to those states who are ready to incorporate them at home. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Russian Federation. Now I give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Germany. Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. President, first of all, thank you and thanks to the Chair of the PBC for convening this meeting at the beginning of the Peace Building Week under this topic. I think that's very important because this week and especially this meeting give us the possibility to underline the link of economic prospects and peace. And in that sense, thanks to all the panellists for the very concrete and valuable contributions that you've made, what is important if we want to achieve peace and build peace. Unemployment and underemployment are, of course, not only economic concerns, but political and social challenges, and when young people see no realistic path to education, training, decent work, the frustration grows, and when women are excluded from from economic life, societies lose talent, resilience, and trust. And when communities compete over scarce livelihoods, existing grievances can deepen. And the opposite is also true. Education, skills development, and decent work create prospects, but also a sense of dignity, belonging, and agency, and they can open alternatives to violence, strengthen confidence in public institutions, and help communities experience tangible peace its dividends. I want to make two points. First, we do have instruments that work and we need to strengthen them, and the Peace Building Fund is one of them, where Germany is and remains the largest long-term donor. And I would like to respectfully cite two more examples—others have been cited—of PBF work. In Liberia, a PBF-supported project on rural development opportunities for youth in conflict in conflict-prone areas linked livelihoods with social cohesion and local dispute resolution. Its reporting points to outcomes like improved participation of young people in land-related decision-making and stronger youth-to-youth and community engagement. Now, this is exactly the type of catalytic peacebuilding investment we need. And in The Gambia, the PBF supports tensions among rural agricultural communities by combining livelihoods, climate adaptation, and peacebuilding—just two practical examples. And what is key is that local businesses and entrepreneurs are central to this agenda. So secondly, my second point is this: we need to do more with the instruments that we have, and we need to scale them up. And concretely, to scale them up, we need stronger partnerships between the PPC, the UN system as a whole, and with international financial institutions and the private sector. As difficult as that is, and we've been talking about this in the PBC quite a bit, and we need to talk about it more this week. So I really look forward to the discussions under this Peacebuilding Week's theme to explore further how partnerships can broaden pathways to nationally owned and locally led sustainable peace supported by the international community. And let me assure you that Germany will very much remain engaged on this issue and in these discussions, not only in this forum but also in the broader international community.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Germany for the statement and I give the floor now to the distinguished Representative of Japan.

Thank you, Chair. I welcome the convening of this session on such a timely and essential theme, a fitting choice to kick off the first-ever Peacebuilding Week. As highlighted in last year's PIBA resolutions, this joint meeting contributes to enhancing the UN's ability to support transitions from conflict to sustaining peace and development. Supporting a smooth and quick transition from dependence on humanitarian relief to sustainable livelihood for each individual is key to early recovery from conflict. This focus on building individual resilience aligns closely with Japan's longstanding commitment to human security. Security. In this spirit, Japan has consistently supported job creation across fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Now allow me to highlight two points. First, inclusive job creation is critical to strengthening social cohesion and preventing conflict. Employment initiatives that intentionally bring communities together can address the root causes of conflict and foster trust. A critical first step toward this is ensuring that everyone has access to finance, even on a small scale. In line with this approach, in Afghanistan, Japan has been implementing various grant projects for livelihood improvement. As an example, Japan is implementing a grant project that provides entrepreneurship training and subsidized loans through local financial institutions. To women-led MSMEs to improve their market and financing access. Second, it is essential to mobilize sustained and scalable financing from development partners and private sector to ensure that job creation efforts contribute to long-term economic development. The new World Bank Group FCV strategy for 2026-2030, which places job creation at its core, underscores the strong potential for deeper collaboration between peacebuilding and development actors in this area. Japan is playing its part by supporting UNDP's Timbuktu Initiative, which seeks to mobilize public and private capital to foster youth-led startups in Africa. This initiative helps translate youth-led innovation grounded in local needs into sustainable job opportunities, long-term economic resilience, and social prosperity. To conclude, I reaffirm Japan's commitment to working with partners to support sustainable livelihoods. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan for the statement. I give the floor now to the Permanent Representative of Norway.

Chair, colleagues, we are at a critical juncture for UN aid reform, for the implementation of the Pact for the Future and the PBAR, and for the urgent need to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. These common agendas converge on how we collectively can help societies to address human needs for safe,— dignified lives with aspirations and opportunities for the future. Lessons from decades of the UN's peacebuilding work are clear: inclusive and integrated approaches, rooted in fundamental human rights, lay the foundation for sustained peace and prosperity for all. The challenges ahead are significant. Global conflict levels are soaring. Unemployment opportunities are not adequate nor accessible to the 1 billion youth that will, or is expected to enter the workforce by 2030. Chairs, let me just emphasize two, two quick points. First, we must prioritize and advance inclusive peacebuilding to enable job creation, both public and private. As we know, armed conflict and violence impede equitable growth and berate youth from opportunities. Future generations deserve far better. We must invest in economic development and job creation, and devote further efforts to include women and youth in the job market and also in peacebuilding, because only inclusive peacebuilding leads to durable peace. Second point, we must continue strengthening the UN system as an enabling platform to promote economic operation, job creation, and prosperity in close partnership with IFIs and private sector, as mentioned by my colleagues. Together, we must enable the UN to deliver better as one, both at country level and its engagement with IFIs and the private sector. In addition, of course, to continuing the excellent work we do jointly on implementing and utilizing the PBF. The private sector does not thrive in uncertainty. Businesses and investors need effective and robust institutions to thrive and to create jobs. Responsive and inclusive institutions foster job creations, both public and private, and also trust and social cohesion, effectively contributing to peace. Colleagues, this Annual Meeting is an opportunity to recommit to the Pact for the Future, and especially to recognize that peace is a precondition for sustainable development, economic growth, and also job creation. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Norway for the statement and I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Thank you, Chair of the PBC and also President of ECOSOC. South Africa is pleased to participate in this joint session. We welcome the focus on how economic opportunities and decent work can promote inclusive societies, strengthen resilience, and sustain peace. Our national experience demonstrates that inclusive economic participation is essential to rebuilding trust, addressing inequality, and reinforcing the social contract. In fragile and post-conflict settings, job creation can reduce grievances, limit recruitment into armed groups, and help communities transition from vulnerability to resilience. South Africa has consistently highlighted the importance of youth empowerment and the positive role of young people in peace and security. During our most recent term on the Security Council, South Africa hosted an open debate on the role of youth in Africa. With more than 60% of Africa's population under the age of 25, the young Africans— young Africans are expected to make up a significant share of global youth population by 2030. Investing in youth is therefore both a development and a peacebuilding imperative. At the national level, South Africa's National Youth Policy prioritizes social cohesion and nation-building in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2250. Youth employment and economic participation are therefore central components to our broader development approach. Chairperson, South Africa wishes to emphasize four key points. First, employment restores dignity, strengthens a sense of belonging, and contributes to social cohesion, helping to stabilize communities emerging from conflict. Second, local ownership and socio-economic inclusion are essential for sustainable peace. National leadership ensures that priorities and solutions are legitimate, context-specific, and responsive to local needs. Third, public-private partnerships and support for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises can mobilize investment, expand economic opportunities, and ensure that benefits of peace reach communities directly. And lastly, greater policy coherence across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus is needed to ensure that employment focused interventions for youth and women are integrated into long-term peacebuilding strategies. In line with the Pact for the Future and the objectives of the African Union's Agenda 2063, efforts to promote social cohesion must be expanded, and it must expand access to decent work and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for youth, women, and marginalized communities. South Africa stands ready to work with all partners to advance job creation as a strategic tool.

I thank the distinguished representative for his statement and I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of China.

President and Chair, China thanks the PBC and ECOSOC for convening this dialogue on this important topic. At the start of the inaugural Peace Building Week, our discussions on development as a fundamental solution to the promotion of peace of great practical and long-term significance. Development is the foundation of security while employment is the cornerstone of people's livelihoods. In post-conflict countries, the lack of livelihoods is often one of the causes for relapse into crisis and instability. By taking a people-centered approach, The international community should prioritize poverty eradication and employment for groups such as women, youth, and formal competence in peacebuilding processes and provide rigorous vocational and technical training, microloans, and support for small, medium-sized, and micro businesses so as to translate demographic advantages into development dividends. And lay a solid foundation for social stability through improved livelihoods. Peacebuilding must adhere to the country-owned principle. The international community should fully respect the sovereignty and wishes of the countries concerned and closely align its efforts with local realities, societal conditions, stages of development, and actual needs when implementing employment projects and providing tailored assistance. The unique the strengths of IFIs and South-South cooperation should be fully leveraged to help these countries boost self-reliant development and self-sustaining capabilities. Peacebuilding is a complex and systematic undertaking. The PBC has specialized expertise in coordinating post-conflict reconstruction and mobilizing international support, while the ECOSOC serves as the authoritative platform for implementing the 2030 Agenda. China supports the two bodies in further strengthening their collaboration to channel peacebuilding resources into job creation projects, deeply integrate short-term humanitarian assistance with medium-term employment support and long-term sustainable development policies, and effectively enhance the risk-resistant capacity and resilience of fragile states. President and Chair, China has always been a builder of world peace and contributor to global development. By implementing the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, we're offering development solutions for post-conflict countries. We continue to deepen our cooperation with the UN and regional organizations by supporting small and effective agrotechnical assistance projects, sharing Juncao cultivation techniques, and creating model villages for poverty reduction. We empower people to lift themselves out of poverty. Through their own efforts and ignite their hope for peaceful lives through development. Together with all parties, China will continue contributing to creating job opportunities, strengthening capacity building, and achieving lasting peace in post-conflict countries.

I thank the distinguished representative of China for his statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Thank you very much, Chair, and thank you very much, Mr. President, for convening us. As a member of PBC, Rwanda really appreciates the theme, which goes to the heart of peacebuilding. Mr. President and colleagues, sustaining peace cannot be built where large segments of society, particularly the young people and women, remain excluded from economic opportunities. According to Secretary-General's report 2026 on Sustainable Development Goals, nearly 20% of young people remain unemployed, educated, in training, while youth unemployment remains almost 4 times higher than that of the adults. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, These realities can deepen even further to fuel instability. Colleagues, today in Rwanda, young people constitute more than 60% of our population. Recognizing this demographic reality, Rwanda has invested heavily in youth employment, entrepreneurship, and skills. Through our initiatives such as YouthConnect, launched in 2012, hundreds of Thousands of young people have benefited from mentorship, entrepreneurship, training, access to finance, and employment opportunities and possibilities. Beyond creating jobs, these programs have helped foster a sense of a shared purpose and a shared responsibility in national belonging. Peacebuilding, therefore, remains an important player in these realities. Its advisory work should continue to focus and emphasize on youth employment, women's economic empowerment, and private sector engagement as an important component of conflict prevention and peacebuilding strategies. As we implement the Pact of the Future and the recommendations of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, we should strengthen cooperation between ACOSOC and Peace Building Commission to ensure that this economic inclusion is fully integrated into peace building efforts. Peace building is more likely to endure when people have a stake in their society's future. Therefore, investing in decent work, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for young people and women will not We are not simply creating jobs. We are building trust, strengthening social cohesion, and laying the very foundation we need of lasting peace and security in our societies. Thank you very much, Mr. President and Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Rwanda. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali, to be followed by Somalia, Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia.

Merci. Thank you, sir. President de Bacossac, Chair of the PBC. Mali welcomes the opportunity to participate in this joint session. I wish to thank our panelists for their valuable briefings. Enhancement of social cohesion through job generation in fragile and post-conflict This context is of particular importance for my country, whose population is largely young, and they are facing limited economic opportunities which are exacerbated by the pooled consequences of insecurity, climate change, forced displacement, and weak infrastructure. In this context, the creation of decent and inclusive jobs, particularly for young people and for women, needs to be viewed as a strategic lever for conflict prevention and for peacebuilding. And for this reason, in Mali, we are very pleased at projects that are financed by the Peacebuilding Fund, insofar as this helps to increase economic opportunities for young people and for women while fostering social cohesion in conflict-affected regions. These initiatives, inter— inter-ally, have supported local entrepreneurship, income-generating initiatives and vocational training and inclusion for young people, helping to reduce factors of fragility. And I would like to highlight 3 key projects. The first is enhancement of strengthening state institutions and community-based resilience in the face of violent extremism and terrorism in Mali, which is financed by UNICEF. UNDP, UNODC, and UN Women. The second is preventing conflict-related violence around natural resources and climate change from San to Koutaileb, financed by UNOPS. And the third project is support for governance accountability and the impact of the portfolio of the Peacebuilding Fund in Mali, which is implemented by UNDP in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the results of initiatives undertaken by the Fund in the country. These reflect the ongoing commitment of the United Nations to integrated approaches for peacebuilding, resilience, economic inclusion, lasting peace in the Sahel and beyond. Together, we are in a position to transform the current challenges into real opportunities for those who are most vulnerable. Thank you.

Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Somalia.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, my delegation, as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission, welcomes this joint meeting of ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission. We commend the theme focusing on job creation as a driver of peacebuilding, social cohesion, and Resilience. Mr. Chair, for countries affected by conflict and fragility, unemployment is not only an economic issue, it is also a peacebuilding concern. When young people, women, and vulnerable communities are excluded from decent work and opportunity, grievances deepen, trust weakens, and instability can take root. Peace becomes meaningful when people can work, support their families, and contribute to their communities. Decent employment provides dignity, strength, resilience, and reduces vulnerability to violence, exploitation, and recruitment by criminal or extremist groups. We welcome the focus on youth, women, between micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and public-private partnerships. In many peacebuilding contexts, the public sector alone cannot meet the demand for jobs. Local businesses, entrepreneurs, cooperatives and private sector actors are essential partners in sustaining peace. Employment programmes must be inclusive, conflict-sensitive, and rooted in local realities. They should expand access to skills, finance, markets, and infrastructure while helping communities rebuild trust across social and geographic divides. Somalia also underlines the need for stronger coherence across the United Nations systems. ECOSOC brings development expertise, The Peace Building Commission brings political accompaniment and country-specific engagement. Together, they can help ensure that economic recovery, social cohesion, and peace building reinforce each other. In conclusion, Somalia encourages three priorities: first, placing youth and women at the center; second, scaling up support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; and third, ensuring predictable, flexible, and long-term financing for job creation in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Somalia remains committed to working with all partners to advance inclusive development, resilience, and sustainable peace. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Somalia. Now I give the floor to the The Permanent Representative of Egypt.

Shukran. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission for organizing this joint meeting at the beginning of the Peacebuilding Week. Egypt believes that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through political or security arrangements alone, but rather requires addressing the root causes of fragility and conflict. Foremost among these reasons are— is unemployment, especially among the youth, in addition to economic and social marginalization, widening development gaps, and unequal opportunities. The absence of economic— the absence of economic opportunities not only weakens the trust in the state but also creates an environment for violence and extremism and recruitment by armed and criminal groups and terrorist groups. From this perspective, we believe that job creation is not merely a development goal, but a direct investment in conflict prevention and social cohesion. Decent and sustainable jobs contribute to consolidating a sense of belonging and strengthen the social contract between citizens and the state and support the resilience of societies in the face of crises. Investing in women and youth and empowering them economically represents one of the most effective tools to build stable and peaceful societies. And here, the national ownership is the cornerstone of any relevant efforts. And this is what we work on establishing through the programs for the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development and the Cairo Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Institute in a number of African countries. We also emphasize the importance of job creation efforts being an integral part of national peacebuilding strategies and to be based on national priorities identified by concerned governments in consultation consultation with their communities. We also believe that coordination between the UN system, IFIs, regional development banks, and the private sector should be strengthened in order to mobilize the necessary investments and create sustainable economic opportunities in countries emerging from conflicts or vulnerable to fragility.

The microphone has been cut off.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Egypt. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Mr. President, Chair. Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Australia on behalf of MIKTA and wishes to add the following in its national capacity. Risk and resilience are two ends of the same road. Between them lie schools, markets, small businesses, and decent work, the everyday foundations of social cohesion and lasting peace. The question is whether we are investing enough in that middle ground. For Indonesia, that middle ground is where peace and development reinforce one another. Sustainable peace cannot take root where exclusion, inequality, and lack of opportunity persist. Equally, development cannot be sustained without peaceful, inclusive, and cohesive societies. Allow me to offer 3 points. First, national ownership remains the basis of effective peacebuilding. Employment strategies are most impactful when they are aligned with national priorities and local realities. And local stakeholders are fully engaged as well. We welcome the direction set by the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review on strengthening coherence across the UN system and fostering stronger partnerships with national actors. Second, prevention must move from slogan to system. Shifting from a strategy of reaction to a culture of prevention and job creation is vital. Inclusive and sustainable employment supports families, restores dignity, and builds trust. By expanding opportunities for women and youth, as well as promoting skills development and entrepreneurship, we can address drivers of exclusion and reduce the risk of future tensions while strengthening cohesion within and across communities. Third, achieving SDG 8 on decent work and SDG 16 on peaceful, to just and inclusive societies requires adequate, predictable, and sustained financing. This includes supports for MSMEs, access to finance, enabling policy environments, and stronger public-private partnerships. South-South and triangular cooperation can further facilitate the exchange of practical solutions tailored to national circumstances. Mr. President, Chair, Decent work prevents conflict, inclusion sustains peace, and partnership delivers both. By investing in people, opportunities, and social cohesion, we can address the root causes of instability while advancing progress towards the 2030 Agenda. Indonesia remains committed to promoting decent work, strengthening social cohesion, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development as foundations for lasting peace. Peace. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.

Mr. President, I would like to thank you and also would like to thank the Chair of PBC for convening this meeting at the beginning of the Peacebuilding Week. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is honored to join this joint session of ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission. The theme before us highlights the critical dimension of peacebuilding, the ability of societies emerging from conflict to rebuild their economies, create jobs, and strengthen social cohesion. Sustainable peace is most achievable when people have access to livelihood that restore dignity and stability. Saudi Arabia firmly believes that economic empowerment, skills development, and inclusive growth are essential pillars for transforming fragile environments into resilient and cohesive communities. When individuals, including youth and women, can participate meaningfully in economic life, they become active contributors to stability and long-term recovery. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Saudi Arabia works closely with the UN system, international organizations, and development partners to support communities recovering from conflict. The Kingdom contributes to programs that rebuild local economies through vocational training and job creation initiatives, also supports small and medium enterprises as engines of community resilience, empower women and youth with skills needed for employment and entrepreneurship, also strengthen essential services and local institutions to enable long-term recovery. These efforts reflect the Kingdom's commitment to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, ensuring that assistance not only addresses immediate needs, but also lays the groundwork for sustainable development. The Kingdom also underscores the importance of predictable financing for peacebuilding, including through the Peacebuilding Fund, and encourages deeper coordination between ECOSOC, the PBC, international financial institutions, and regional organizations. Excellencies, Saudi Arabia remains committed to working with all partners to help societies transition from fragility to resilience by expanding economic opportunities, strengthening local capacities, and fostering inclusive development. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia for the Thank you for your statement. Can I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of France?

President of ECOSOC, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, distinguished colleagues, I wish to take this opportunity to applaud the participation of the panelists in today's meeting, which raises an important question: what are the modalities for action in the face of increasingly numerous and complex crises bringing together the three pillars of our organization? At the national level, I wish I wish to share some comments in addition to the statement delivered by the EU on behalf of the EU and its 27 member states. We welcome the declaration adopted following the second Doha World Social Summit, which sets out a clear assessment which is verified in all conflict and post-conflict zones. Social development and social justice are of vital significance for the attainment of peace. They cannot be achieved without peace. Nor without respect for human rights and basic freedoms. At the heart of this aspiration— this was reminded by the representative of— this is recalled by the representative of ILO— the creation of high-quality jobs on the one hand and decent work on the other hand, these represent key points. And through employment, it is possible to restore sustainable livelihoods for peoples when they exit from crises. And through employment, it is possible to rebuild decent lives. Through jobs, it is possible to rebuild social ties by creating interdependency between employers, workers, and the communities surrounding them. In improving access to decent work as a leverage for preventing forms of unfair competition and for enhancing economic resilience amid global shocks is key when it comes —facing the current energy crisis. We applaud the efforts of the Peace Building Fund, specifically the initiative supported by the fund in Haiti and Mauritania in generating green jobs. This also contributes to promoting climate resilience. I would like to conclude by mentioning UNAID. With support and international solidarity, France particularly supports supports the efforts of the PB—Peace Building Fund. I would note the efforts of the Fund in Haiti and Mauritania for the creation of green jobs, which also helps to improve climate-related resilience. Mr. President, I now turn to the UN Haiti Initiative of the Secretary-General. This initiative encourages us to be more coherent and effective and efficient in our efforts to benefit the people our organization works for. The method embraced by the Fund, which brings together relevant funds and programs around a common objective, is correct. We wish to see this enhanced wherever possible through effective and efficient coordination of local UN country teams. I thank the distinguished representative of France as the chair for his statement, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

President of ECOSOC, Chair of the PBC, my delegation welcomes the convening of this joint meeting. I also thank the distinguished panelists for their insightful views. For many developing countries, the interlinked risks of protracted conflict, economic exclusion, and social division remain structural challenges. We must acknowledge that high rates of unemployment and underemployment are ultimately drivers of instability and fragility. With global youth unemployment rates remaining nearly 4 times those of adults. Generating decent work is an absolute peace and security imperative. This was strongly underscored during last year's in-depth review of SDG 8 by the High-Level Political Forum. Colleagues, lasting peace cannot be achieved through short-term security stabilization alone. It demands resilient, inclusive societies with sustained economic opportunities. In conflict-affected areas where labor markets face heavy informality, we must actively empower MSMEs as the primary engines of job creation. To move effectively from risk to resilience, we wish to highlight 3 strategic pathways. First, we need to strengthen public-private partnerships. National governments must improve enabling policy and regulatory frameworks. While private actors bring investment and innovation into local labor markets. Second, skills must be aligned with market demands. Employment interventions must be combined with skills development, local procurement, and conflict-sensitive approaches that restore the social fabric. Third, we need enhanced UN institutional coherence. We must bridge institutional silos by fostering collaboration between ECOSOC and the PBC, fully implementing the recommendations of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review. In conclusion, Algeria underscores that a successful movement from risk to resilience relies on strict adherence to national ownership, supported by predictable international cooperation and adequate funding. We must ensure that in our pursuit of peace, we truly leave no one behind. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria for the statement and give the floor now to the distinguished representative of Cambodia.

Mr. Co-chair, Excellencies, distinguished participants, Cambodia commends the President of ECOSOC and the Chair of PBC for these timely meetings. We appreciate their leadership in advancing peacebuilding and addressing the root cause of instabilities. This discussion provides a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthening collective efforts toward more resilient and peaceful societies. Cambodia firmly believes that sustainable peace peace requires more than the absence of conflicts. It requires inclusive development, economic opportunities, and strong social cohesion. In this regard, job creation is not merely an economic objective; it is a powerful instrument for fostering trust, strengthening resilience, and sustainable peace. Having endured After decades of conflicts, Cambodia deeply cherishes peace and recognizes it as the indispensable foundation for development. Our journey from conflict to lasting peace has demonstrated that improved livelihood and economic opportunity are essential to strengthening social cohesion and preventing the recurrence of conflict. Conflicts. In peacebuilding contexts, decent and productive employment, particularly for youth and women, can reduce vulnerabilities, foster a sense of belonging, and strengthen trust within communities. Employment generation also serves as a bridge between the humanitarians, development and peacebuilding efforts, enabling communities to move from security towards resilience and self-reliance. With more than 60% of our population under the age of 30, Cambodia considers investments in youth an investment in peace. We are integrating peace education moral values and global citizenship into our national curriculums while expanding access to vocational training, digital skills, and entrepreneurship opportunities. At the same time, stronger international cooperation, adequate financing, and partnership among governments and United Nations systems, international financial institutions and private sector and civil society remain essential. Empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises can—

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Cambodia. Thank you for your statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Bangladesh welcomes this joint ECOSOC-PBC meeting, particularly for convening during the inaugural Peacebuilding Week. I thank the distinguished panelists for the very insightful and useful discussion. Mr. Chair, in fragile and conflict-affected settings, employment is not just an economic tool but a strategic peacebuilding mechanism. Unemployment and underemployment, especially among youth and women, are not only the economic challenges but also accelerate grievances, exclusion, and instability. To this end, job creation is the most effective tool for building trust, reducing tensions, and fostering inclusive recovery when it is local, inclusive and integrated into peacebuilding strategies. Our national experience demonstrates that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are critical engines for job creation, income generation, and local economic resilience. They are the major employers for women, youth, and vulnerable groups, and especially in fragile settings, they can provide livelihoods where formal employment is scarce. To advance social cohesion through job creation, we must have compassionate societies where opportunities are accessible to all and where dignity and equality are upheld. But this vision cannot be achieved in isolation. Bangladesh has placed people and the planet at the center of our policies. We have prioritized rural development, women's empowerment, social protection, and inclusive finance. Nearly 15% of our national budget is allocated to social protection. Our social protection scheme covers programs related to employment generation and food security. We must ensure safe environment for the women and youth. It is equally essential to ensure decent work and unhindered access to resources for women and youth during disasters or humanitarian crises. We need to safeguard adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for implementation of the WPS agenda. Finally, to accelerate progress on decent work and economic growth and the broader 2030 Agenda, international cooperation and policy coordination must be strengthened through aligned frameworks, shared goals, integrated action, and innovative approaches. Innovative approaches combine job creation, social inclusion, and local ownership to build resilience and reduce tension. I thank you. Shyama Sinha, distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Bangladesh for his statements. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nepal commends the convening of this timely joint meeting of Kosok and the Peace Building Commission. We also thank the panelists for their valuable insights. Mr. Chair, peace building efforts underpinned by economic opportunities and inclusive growth are more likely to foster sustainable peace, human dignity, and resilient societies. Today, peace is being challenged on multiple fronts. Prolonged conflicts continue to inflict immense human suffering and economic deprivation. Persistent inequalities and unequal distribution of opportunities fuel exclusion, grievances, and instability. Economic downturns exacerbate vulnerabilities while widening political and social divisions, erode trust, and weaken the social fabric that binds communities together. We believe that a holistic and coherent approach to peacebuilding that promotes social cohesion can serve an effective guardrail against conflict outbreak and proliferation. We underscored strengthening peace and development nexus in a mutually reinforcing manner. Employment opportunities, therefore, play a critical role in post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation. While helping address the drivers that often give rise to conflict and instability. During lessons from our nationally-led and won peace process, Nepal recognized the transformative role of social cohesion, supported by decent jobs and economic opportunities, in advancing sustainable peace. Mr. Chair, allow me to highlight 4 key points. First, advancing Agenda 2030, especially SDG 8, must remain a priority. Fostering economic growth, entrepreneurship,— innovation, diversification, and accessible financing, particularly for MSMEs, can generate productive employment and decent work opportunities. Creating an enabling environment for the private sector through inclusive policies and partnership is equally important. Second, post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation must be accompanied by meaningful economic opportunities. International support and partnership should prioritize national ownership, institution building, and investment that generates sustainable livelihoods in communities most vulnerable to conflicts. Third, targeted investment in human capital, particularly among youth and women, are indispensable. Exclusion, unemployment, and lack of prospects can become drivers of conflict and instability. Skills development, digital literacy, entrepreneurship support, and access to productive resources must be aligned with local market needs and future economic opportunities. Fourth, addressing the root causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, underdevelopment, and and inclusion must remain at the center of our collective efforts. Doing so reduces incentives for conflict, strengthens trust among communities, and creates pathways for hope, dignity, and sustainable peace. Mr. Chair, the lessons from peacebuilding efforts are clear. Jobs create not only incomes, but also confidence, inclusion, and resilience. Let me conclude with a question: How can progress under SDG 8 on inclusive economic growth and decent work be better leveraged to advance SDG 16, and strengthen peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nepal. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.

Gracias, señor Presidente. Thank you, co-chairs. Guatemala thanks you for convening this joint meeting and for preparing the concept note. And thank you also for the presentation this morning that shows the growing link between job creation, social cohesion, and peacebuilding in a context marked by conflicts, inequalities, and growing challenges to development. Guatemala wishes to underscore three priorities that are based on our national experience. The first one is the creation of economic opportunities. We agree that decent jobs should not only be seen as an economic tool but also as a strategic investment in prevention and peacebuilding. Guatemala's experience shows that expanding real opportunities for youth, reducing risk factors associated with exclusion, and strengthens social stability. An example of this is the Aportes for Peace program for youth in rural areas that benefits from PBF funds. The second is promoting inclusion, participation, and social cohesion. National experience shows that results are more sustainable when economic opportunities are coupled with spaces for dialogue and participation. Within this framework, 73% of youth saw positive changes in their communities, seeing higher social cohesion as well as more opportunities for participation for women and youth. The creation of youth networks, community boards, and consultation mechanisms contributed to strengthening trust between local actors and the ability to effectively deal with community challenges. The third priority is strengthening alliances. No actor can address these alone. Governments, the UN, international financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society have complementary responsibilities for broadening economic opportunities and strengthening resilience. Guatemala's experience shows the value of alliances between youth, municipalities, community organizations, and public institutions to achieve sustainable results with local ownership. Co-chairs Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of economic opportunity, opportunities, inclusive ones, as well as tools to strengthen social cohesion, prevent peace— rather, achieve peace and achieve sustainable development. Thank you.

Thank you, Representative of Guatemala. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of International Association of Youth and Students for Peace.

Mr. President, Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, speaking on behalf of the SDG 16 Global Youth Caucus convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth and the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace. We approach this conversation from the conviction that decent work is essential to human dignity and that human dignity is a substrate of any durable peace. Decent work alone, however, does not produce social cohesion. A young person can hold a job and still feel unseen, unheard, and unattached to the community around them. Employment becomes peacebuilding only when it is embedded in relationships of trust, civic belonging, and shared purpose. And this is why SDG 8 cannot be separated from SDG 16. The 20% of young people not in employment, education, or training are also often disproportionately disengaged from civic life. The same conditions that exclude them from labor markets exclude them from political voice. Solving one without the other will not hold. We make three calls. First, recognize youth-led organizations, including MSMEs, founded by young peacebuilders. As legitimate delivery partners under the Peacebuilding Fund. They are already creating jobs in fragile settings, often at lower cost and with deeper local trust than external implementers. Second, integrate peace and civic education into employment programs financed by the Peacebuilding Fund. Where radicalization takes hold, civic formation is the firewall that skills training alone for youth cannot build. A welder who understands her stake in her society Society is a peacebuilder. Skills create livelihoods. Civic formation creates stakeholders in peace. Third, measure social cohesion outcomes alongside employment outcomes. What gets counted gets built, and what gets built is what gets funded next. If we only count jobs, we will only get jobs. If we count trust, agency, and belonging, we may get peace. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of International Associations of Youth and Students for Peace. Excellencies, colleagues, now we have heard the last speaker on our list. I will now invite the panelists to respond to the comments made and questions posed by the delegations. With this, I would like to invite Ms. Cynthia Samuel Olonjuwa.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Let me start by really thanking the President of ECOSOC and the Chair of PBC for bringing us all together. I knew it was going to be an exciting conversation. But I didn't know it was going to be this deep and this engaging. And it really has been wonderful listening to all the interventions by my fellow panelists and also by Your Excellencies and distinguished representatives of the member states. I doubt that in the time I can do justice to all the issues that have been identified, but I'll just use the time to reiterate a few points. The first point that I want to just reflect on is the understanding, the shared understanding, the shared recognition that came from all the interventions, that decent work is not just a development issue, it's not just an economic issue, but that it's a critical tool for prevention, as a critical pathway for dignity, for building trust, for inclusion, for resilience, and for lasting peace. I have quite a lot of wonderful specific statements that I have written down, and I will use them. I hope there's no copyright infringement from the member states. I promise I'll use them because they really demonstrate in a very clear way the importance of decent work for resilience and lasting peace. The second point that I would highlight, and it's to thank the member states who identified— including the last point that was made by the representative of the civil society, The important point that was made on the importance of SDG 8 in this conversation, and I want to tie this to the several comments that came out on the need for flexible, sustainable, and adequate financing for SDG 8, particularly within the context of crisis and fragility. I also want to thank the member states who gave specific examples of work that has been done and is being done to support member states in facilitating the strategic nexus between humanitarian, development, and peace. In this regard, to the representative of Guyana speaking on the behalf of CARICOM, giving the example of the work that has been done in Haiti, the special— the representative of Sierra Leone giving an example of the work that has been done in Sierra Leone, recognizing has been reiterated by several speakers, that there has to be enhanced collaboration. There has to be engagement within the UN system with the— international financial institutions, but also with other partners, and reiterating the critical importance of the private sector, of the workers' movement, of those in the civil society, as well as different arms of government coming together for an inclusive and locally responsive decent work interventions that will contribute to lasting peace. I want to also use this opportunity to reiterate that for the International Labour Organization, partnership and collaboration is in our DNA. We work with business, we work with workers' organizations and with governments, and in the area of peacebuilding, in the area of addressing issues within the fragile settings, We have consistently worked with other partners and we will work very closely with you, Mr. President, Mr. Chair of PBC, to provide the needed support in an integrated manner to our member states. Again, really thank you so much for your inputs. Really thank you for the reassurance that we're all on the same page. And I can assure you that the ILO remains your committed partner in this endeavour. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

Thank you. I would like to invite Ms. Maria Demetrio-Dau for the final remark.

Thank you so much. I agree there was consensus among the panelists but also around the room, and this is not This is because we do work for many years on the ground together and this has created this common understanding on what are the challenges, what is the analysis, what are the approaches that work. I think the examples that were mentioned around the room are being implemented by many of us and on many occasions together. I think there is scope to bring more concretely this discussion, these examples here to explain and share them because Collaboration is not something random, it does happen on the ground. How it can be scaled up further is by being targeted, mission-driven, and that's why we have been, in the World Bank Group, referring, pointing to nationally owned development agendas that evolve around major initiatives, be it on agriculture, on energy, on water, and beyond. Now, Ambassador Tapa, I have been thanking Thank you and the ECOSOC colleagues and UN DESA colleagues throughout the ECOSOC cycle for inviting the World Bank Group to contribute and raise awareness about what we do, build consensus on common understanding. But now I will shift my attention to my colleague Elizabeth Sperhardt and her team and thank her because this has been really a valued engagement from the World Bank Group to bring in the development perspective and together move this agenda further. So we very much look forward to continuing this discussion. I will participate during the week. My colleagues from the Fragility, Conflict and Violence and Development Economics will be contributing around the week and continue the great discussion we started earlier this month in the Fragility Forum. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I would like to invite Mr. Roland Pomondam, for her final comments as well as to respond for the comments made and some questions posed by the delegations. I think you are muted. Can you— Unmute. Mr. Vanmandam, if you could unmute your microphone, please. Roland, can you unmute? Now I would like to invite June Biaf Ricobeni for her intervention now. Thank you

very much to the presidents of ECOSOC and the PBC, and we're also so grateful to all the member states in the room for your engagement in this important discussion. Discussion, and it was really great to see the broad-based recognition of the importance of addressing root causes of conflict, prevention, and also the central role of women and youth and gender approaches. Policy coherence also was something that we're really pleased to see come up throughout the discussion. And so I think I'll just be brief to say that when we're thinking about what peaceful economies look like, when feminist— what feminist economies look like, and moving from economies of war to economies of peace, —it is really important to think about the structural transformation that's needed so that this economic development does not continue to reinforce harm and instead promotes economic justice, whose voices are heard, whose labor is valued and counted. And so then I would also underscore again really the centrality of care work and about all of this work that's done both during armed conflicts and in post-conflict periods and just really around the world that is sustaining the fabric of societies. And so we really look forward to continuing the discussion and also to just say that it's— the partnerships with civil society are also really crucial at this moment, partnerships with feminist movements and with those on the ground who are doing a lot of this work. It's a really— it's a difficult time in international cooperation and with rising crises, with the climate crisis, and with rising conflict and instability. And so It's really important to sustain these partnerships and to continue the dialogue together so that we're working towards prevention and peace. So, thank you. Thank you.

Can I again invite Mr. Ronald— Ronald Pomondin for final remarks? Sir, apologies. The first button needs to be black, not red. I think there was some problems in the connections. Now, with this, I thank all our panelists for your excellent interventions, also your presentations. With this, I now hand over the conduct of the closing of the meetings to my co-chairs. The Chair of the PBC. Thank you

very much, Co-Chair and President of ECOSOC. It's now my pleasure to give the floor to Ms. Elizabeth Spijar, Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Peace Support at the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to make a closing statement. Ms. Péa, you have the floor. Monsieur

le Président, I'd like to start by thanking very sincerely both Ambassador Thapa and Ambassador Hilale for convening this meeting, and for all of the speakers with their excellent remarks, as well as the participating member states, so many of you today. A lot of insightful comments, and as many have said already, really quite a lot of convergence on what the challenges are and what needs to be done. I think it's an excellent way to start Peacebuilding Week with our strong emphasis on partnerships as the overarching theme. As we've heard from various speakers, in peacebuilding contexts, economic exclusion and fragility are deeply interconnected. A lack of economic opportunity can deepen grievances, erode trust, and reinforce the divisions that sustain conflict. Conversely, creating decent and inclusive employment opportunities can help address underlying drivers of instability. So in this closing segment, I would like to touch on progress made through our peacebuilding architecture here at the UN and to extract a few lessons learned that we have gleaned, which have also been validated various times by others in the course of today on the challenge of advancing social cohesion through job creation and related economic opportunity. Opportunities. Regarding progress, I'd like to highlight the particular role of the Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund. I'd also like to thank the various representatives here of member states who actually provided some concrete examples of PBF work around the world in this field. That underscores the fact that supporting the economic dividends of peace has been a core priority of the Peacebuilding Fund for its two decades of existence. Between 2015 and 2024, the PBF invested approximately $573 million in initiatives that combined livelihoods, economic recovery, and broader peacebuilding objectives across 48 countries, representing more than a third of its total allocations during that period. Let me give you one more example. In Colombia, the PBF invested in Humanicemos DH, an organization founded and led by former FARC-EP combatants, which was established as a specialized humanitarian demining NGO. Today, Humanicemos is one of the country's officially recognized demining operators, which created jobs for former combatants, contributing both to productive reintegration employment, and territorial security. The PBF also mobilized catalytic grant capital to connect small and medium enterprises in conflict-affected areas in Colombia to value chains, credit markets, and new economic opportunities. By deploying only $2 million, the PBF leveraged $13 million in private investment through a blended finance structure, demonstrating that for peacebuilding in fragile contexts, job creation is not a byproduct, it is at the core. I can say I think it points very much to the way in which the Fund can be even more important in its future iterations. Regarding learning, I'd like to highlight 4 key lessons that have resonated throughout our discussions today. First of all, as Ambassador Thapa outlined, At the outset, micro, small and medium enterprises are among the most effective drivers of job creation and economic inclusion in conflict-affected settings. Embedded within communities, these enterprises are engines of job creation and help build the economic foundations for lasting peace. Second, job creation can be a powerful peacebuilding tool, especially when it is deliberately designed in a manner that strengthens social cohesion and is thus peace-intentional. Inclusive conflict— inclusive and conflict-sensitive programs that are rooted in local economies and communities can help build trust and resilience. Thirdly, job creation in fragile conflict and violent settings is more impactful and the impact is more sustainable when it is part of a broader prevention and peacebuilding strategy, including strengthening key institutions for justice and security. Security that can help build or rebuild trust between governments and their citizens. Fourthly, the importance of the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas, as well as attention to other excluded groups. This is absolutely critical for a successful jobs creation, social cohesion effort. For the path ahead, our collective challenge is to bring successful employment-focused peacebuilding initiatives to scale, supported by the partnerships and financing needed to achieve transformative impact, and to ensure that this is embedded in broader peacebuilding approaches. Excellencies, in conclusion, ECOSOC and PBC working together can provide an invaluable platform for countries to seek support on peacebuilding and development issues such as the one that we've been exploring today. I would encourage Member States to continue to consider options to strengthen the collaboration of these two bodies, focusing on concrete country-specific or regional situations and utilizing expert-level discussions to ensure follow-up and impact on the ground. I thank you. Je remercie

infiniment l'Assistant-Secretaire Général. I thank the Assistant-Secretary General for her comments that recalled us, with her authority from— thanks to her experience on the ground, a simple fact that in societies tested by conflict, decent jobs are not just an economic question but one of the most tangible bases for achieving peace. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, please allow me as I adjourn this meeting to first of all thank my co-chair, the President of ECOSOC, His Excellency The Ambassador whose enlightened leadership has enabled us to rise to the stakes of this meeting. Also our panelists from Washington to Geneva and Cameroon. They made concrete contributions and we opened this week, the first week on peacebuilding, around a simple conviction that this debate I think has been driven in long-suffering societies where they are facing these issues, where unemployment is so important. It's much more than just providing people an income. It's a reason to hope rather than lose hope. It's an alternative to migration, and it is the first ray of hope of trust between communities and citizens and citizens in the Strait. The— what are the main lines that went through our exchanges? Those— I have 4 observations, 4 takeaways from it. First of all, job creation is one of the most powerful points of entry towards social cohesion and resilience. Decent work that provides security, dignity, and a sense of belonging, it helps people move away from their grievances and it establishes links where conflict caused divisions. Second, this effort cannot succeed without the private sector, whether public sector reaches its limits, it's SMEs, small and medium-sized and micro enterprises, that can provide employment. Infrastructure, regulatory, predictable regulatory environment can help the private sector to respond through investment, innovation, and hiring. Public-private partnerships are not a circumstantial formula. They are an absolute need. They're absolutely essential, actually. Thirdly, we will not build anything lasting if we leave the people who will shape the future by the wayside. Young people whose unemployment rate is still 4 times higher than adults, Women face disproportionate stumbling blocks on the jobs market also, and no peace can be achieved by excluding youth and more than half of the population. Fourthly, good intentions are not enough. We need the means allocated to achieve these things. The PPF has shown this by supporting livelihoods, social cohesion, just like Madame Speer said just a few moments ago about her experience in Colombia, which is a real model, a benchmark for the work of the PBF and the PBC. However, the UN's resources are just one lever. We also require engagement with international financial institutions, the development of skills, access to finance and conflict-sensitive approach, this can really achieve the scale— change the scale of our results. As Nancy's distinguished colleagues, this shows that the review of the peacebuilding architecture 2025 is really calling us to do— decompartmentalize and ensure that we engage in dialogue on the pillar of peace and development. The proximity this morning between ECOSOC and the PBC and coherence between them that we must now ensure continues in the future. This morning we've seen a focus on programming and financing for the future, and our colleague and friend here asked— when she said that she hoped that she wouldn't be attacked for stealing your intellectual property this morning. Basically, we need to make sure that we do these things. Now, the fact is that behind each and every job there is a face, an individual, a young person, finding their autonomy and empowerment, someone who dares to believe in the future, and those are the people that we are working for, and it is through them that peace will become possible again. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, the joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission is concluded.