On 27^th April 2022, KEPSA CEO Ms. Carole Kariuki participated in the United Nations High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Financing for Peacebuilding. The high-level meeting serves as a forum for Member States to advance possible solutions and make commitments to address the identified financing gap for prevention and peacebuilding in the context of fast-changing, protracted and complex violent conflicts. Ms. Kariuki was present as the private sector speaker.

Also speaking alongside the KEPSA CEO included H.E Abdulla Shahid – President of the General Assembly, H.E Volker Türk – Under Secretary General for Policy in the Executive office of the Secretary General, H.E Ambassador Barbara Woodward – PR of UK and President of SC, H.E Ambassador Collen Kelapile – PR of Botswana and President of The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), H.E Ambassador Rahab Fatima – PR of Bangladesh and Chairperson of PBC, Ms. Soukeyna Kane – Director of the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at the World Bank, Mr. Frank Bosquet – Deputy Director of IMF, Ms. Mavic Cabrera-Balleza – Founder and Chief Executive Officer Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, Ms. Martine Kessy Ekomo-Soignet – Founder and Executive Director of URU among others.

While making the opening statement, H.E Abdulla Shahid said that violence and insecurities devastate development gains, strangles economic growth, prevents children from going to school, restricts health and social services and seriously impairs progress on gender equality. “Today we are confronted with the changing nature of conflict involving complex cross border issues, climate change and the COVID 19 pandemic. Peacebuilding must be seen as a tool to help address these challenges. And it can and should be woven into our responses.” He said.

On his part, H.E Volker Türk noted that achieving and sustaining peace is the foundational goal of the United Nations, and this has become more important, but also more complex, as conflicts proliferate and become more intertwined. “As was recognized in the landmark 2015 resolutions on the peacebuilding architecture, our unique approach seeks to build a foundation for peaceful societies through addressing root causes and drivers of conflict.”

H.E Amb. Woodward insisted that the purpose of the meeting was to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace. “The prevention of violent conflict, peacebuilding and sustaining peace are central to these objectives and to our work. But as the Security Council and the General Assembly, effective peacebuilding must involve the entire UN system.” She added.

In his remarks, H.E Collen Kelapile made reference to the seventh annual ECOSOC forum on Financing for Development, which reviews the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and other Financing for Development Outcomes to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. “Millions have been newly thrown into poverty as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. We are seeing the impacts of the war in Ukraine, inflation, slowing growth, supply chain and production disruptions, and rising food insecurity are further weakening the prospects for recovery in these many countries. The deepening of the climate crisis is not matched by similarly ambitious actions. We need to hold ourselves accountable to the promises made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in 2015, that we will step up our efforts to assist countries in accessing financing for peacebuilding and development.” He remarked.

H.E Ambassador Rahab Fatima PR of Bangladesh and Chairperson of PBC, making her remarks on behalf of the peacebuilding commission said that the commission is committed to offering its platform for the promotion of south-south and triangular cooperation in support of peacebuilding and sustaining peace. And this could include identifying creative peacebuilding, financing, and non-financial contributions, such as capacity building and technical cooperation.

Also speaking in the meeting, Ms. Soukeyna Kane Director of the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at the World Bank, commented on the war in Ukraine. “The situation in Ukraine is devastating. But as we continue to respond to the Ukraine crisis, we must not forget all the other hotspots around the world that need our urgent attention. The World Bank is strongly committed to the Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) agenda since its launch in 2020 The World Bank Group FCV strategy has guided us in finding new and innovative approaches to financing, operations and analytics” She said.

While commenting on the challenges facing peacebuilding in the world. Mr. Frank Bosquet – Deputy Director of IMF, said that the only way to address them is through greater alignment between all actors in the international community.

KEPSA CEO, Ms. Carole Kariuki reiterated that the Private sector operates in an ecosystem, one that has to enjoy peace and stability; with the understanding that conflict is bad for investment. “The local private sector contributes to peacebuilding through economic influence and political contacts; its financial resources; information; its skilled workforce (relatively skilled in peace and mediation); its capacity to drive balanced development; and its connections at all levels of society.” She said.

Using KEPSA as a case study, Ms. Kariuki said that the private sector has understood that peace and political stability are part of an enabling business environment and thus key agendas as part of advocacy and activities by business.

The KEPSA CEO, also shared the lessons learnt by Kenya’s private sector on private sector engagement on conflict in preventing outbreak, escalation, continuation, recurrence, addressing root causes, ending conflict, reconciliation and moving towards development. Some of these include:

1. That the root cause of conflict especially political conflict is mistrust and Private sector is seen a trusted voice in mediation and as an advisor during such times.
2. That peace campaigns work as part of change behaviour; the peace messages became part of political talk in rallies and signing of peace pledge led to politicians being held accountable by the public on rhetoric. 
3. Private sector organizations have a long-term view because investments and returns take time and so will want to ensure nothing disrupts the investments and lead to loss making.
4. The private sector has a powerful convening power of not only to business but other sectors including development partners and the UN to fund and work towards peace building.
5. That the private sector and especially local private sector has resources and responsibility to prevent, mitigate and lead in development agenda to end all conflicts political through peace building, economic through investments to create jobs and wealth.
6. On Covid 19 related conflicts to access of food and water and reduce losses of jobs, PPE and vaccine access, KEPSA and private sector run initiatives that complimented Government in providing basics to the most vulnerable, training of youth and SMEs to use technology to access jobs and do business and affordable credit and interest free credit.
7. That elections are expensive and for developing countries like Kenya this takes a big budget off development budget and personal resources for candidates leading to a “do or die” type of elections that easily end up in conflict between winners and losers. KEPSA has been advocating for more cost-efficient election processes and capping of campaign financing through supporting the campaign financing bill that is yet to see the light of day in parliament.
8. As KEPSA we have done a proof of concept that the most sustainable peace initiatives are locally grown and can do more if supported by global initiatives. That effective conflict prevention and sustaining peace reduces costs of response by countries and businesses as well as other stakeholders.

Ms. Kariuki also shared some of the conflicts that Kenya has faced and how the private sector has responded. These include:

1. Sponsoring and leading a mediation process: In 2005, the first democratically elected Government, had a fall out which could have led to a full-blown conflict. KEPSA established a mediation team and drew from other sectors e.g religious and civil society leaders and engaged with the two sides. Though there was no reconciliation on working together between the two sides, the country was able to remain stable.
2. In 2007, unfortunately the elections were disputed and there was no trust in the institutions of justice and this led to post election violence. The private sector under the KEPSA umbrella fundraised among its members and convene meetings with each side of the political divide and UN Secretary General under Kofi Annan came into the country and this supported what KEPSA was already doing in-terms of mediation and seeking a solution.
3. Kenya embattled and continues to embattle the challenge of Violence Extremism, with sprouts of violent activities in some parts of the country both by local extremists and Neighboring Alshaabab terrorism group. KEPSA conducted a study dubbed “Understanding the impact of violent extremism on Kenya’s Private Sector”, to garner the feel of the extent the private sector is affected by violence; the level at which businesses were integrating peacebuilding initiatives with communities; the impact of such activities or otherwise. The study revealed substantial information and proposals that have ever since informed a private sector strategy on Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) in Kenya.
4. In 2011, the country faced a devastating famine and especially the Northern Arid areas of the country. The private sector came together and partnered with media, and did a call for support to all Kenyans in an initiative dammed ‘Kenyans for Kenya” which highlighted more the plight of the Kenyans in that region.
5. In 2012, before 2013 elections, the private sector with knowledge and experience from the two times leading in the mediation processes of 2005 and 2007, the Kenyans for Kenyan initiative under the KEPSA umbrella started the Mkenya Daima initiative. This is a campaign inspired by the private sector but brings together religious leaders, civil society, youth, women, business etc and working closely with Government and development partners including the local UN and the SG and his office in 2012 to monitor implementation of the National Accord to inspire on peace and peaceful elections.

Ms. Mavic Cabrera-Balleza – Founder and Chief Executive Officer Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, insisted on the involvement of women in peacebuilding affairs. “Even after peace agreements are signed, research indicates that half of all first-world countries lapse back into conflict the first decade after the end of the fighting. One critical reason is the lack or absence of women in peace processes, the errors have to be rectified.” She said.

Ms. Martine Kessy Ekomo-Soignet, Founder and Executive Director of URU, spoke on some key actors in conceiving, implementing and follow up for intervention and peacebuilding programmes. “The opinions and views of young people and women should be considered more systematically and more seriously because they are capable despite the lack of financing or adequate financing, to meet some of the challenges that we have to face.”

Peacebuilding financing remains a critical challenge, and therefore the high-level meeting aims to advance, explore and consider options for ensuring adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding.