Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon announced on 8 January that the Central African Republic was eligible for continuing support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund. This announcement follows an emergency decision last September to provide $800,000 in support of a broad-based political dialogue in the country. The Peacebuilding Fund was launched in October 2006 with a mandate to support post-conflict countries’ efforts to consolidate peace and avoid recidivism.
The approval makes the Central African Republic the fifth country to win on-going support from the Fund, after Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia and Nepal. The decision is the result of consultations with the Central African government, the office of UN Special Representative in CAR (BONUCA) and other recovery partners.

Funding commitments have not been finalized and will depend largely on the priorities outlined in a joint UN-government action plan. Following the announcement of eligibility, Undersecretary-General for Peacebuilding Carolyn McAskie requested UN Special Representative in CAR François Fall to begin drafting such a plan with the government and other partners.

The Peacebuilding Fund is intended to provide quick funding that can serve as a bridge from post-conflict situations to recovery. Forty-two donors have promised over $250 million to the Fund, which is guided by the UN Secretariat under the auspices of the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO).

For more information please contact:

John Ratcliffe
United Nations Development Programme
Bangui
john.ratcliffe@undp.org