As the Peacebuilding Fund marks its 20th anniversary during the first-ever Peacebuilding Week, the United Nations is highlighting stories of communities working to build and sustain peace with powerful examples of why continued investment in peace remains essential long after conflict has ended.
Since its inception in 2006, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, fueled by the generosity of Member States and working alongside UN agencies and local partners, has invested over $2 billion in conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives, responding to the national priorities of more than 75 countries and territories.
Every day, teachers, farmers, police officers, volunteers and human rights activists help rebuild communities in the aftermath of conflict and crisis. Their efforts improve lives, help prevent the recurrence of violence and lay the foundations for lasting peace.
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Sudan, these local peacebuilders are proving that sustainable peace is built not only through political agreements, but also through long-term investments in communities, institutions and opportunities. Liberia offers a powerful example of how national leadership, community engagement and international support can work together to sustain peace after conflict.
In 2018, Liberia stood at a critical crossroads. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) completed its final drawdown after providing 15 years of support to help stabilize the country following two devastating civil wars. While the immediate threat of large-scale violence had receded, many of the underlying drivers of conflict remained, requiring long-term solutions led by Liberians themselves.
The transition marked a new chapter for peacebuilding in Liberia. With support from national authorities, local communities, the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and international partners, efforts increasingly focused on strengthening institutions, promoting social cohesion and addressing the root causes of instability.
Liberia's experience highlights an important lesson at the heart of Peacebuilding Week: peace does not end when conflict ends. Building and sustaining peace requires continued investment in people, communities and institutions long after peacekeepers depart.
From insecurity to hard-worn peace
When UNMIL left, there was widespread fear that human rights violations would go unreported, fracturing public trust and weakening state accountability. Conflict early-warning systems began to deteriorate, threatening the country’s ability to prevent violence before it escalated.
Liberia’s stability remained fragile. The unfinished business of addressing the root causes of its past civil wars weighed heavily on its people.
UNMIL drew down in Liberia in 2018. Credit: UN Photo
Locally-led peace and human rights processes
Through the UN Peacebuilding Fund, a milestone was realized - the establishment of a standalone UN Human Rights (OHCHR) country office, allowing a dedicated institutional anchor to continue Liberia’s journey towards lasting peace.
OHCHR Liberia worked with the Government, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations to build the state’s internal capacity to monitor, report, and act upon threats to human rights and justice.
Women in Liberia campaigned for UN Human Rights presence. Credit: OHCHR Liberia
Building trust, safeguarding human rights
Ahead of its general elections in 2023, as anxiety rose among the public over insecurity, hate speech, and misinformation, a targeted peacebuilding initiative was put into motion.
Targeting political hotspots in the country, such as Nimba County, where communities historically faced high levels of exclusion and electoral violence, the initiative empowered vulnerable groups—including women, youth, and persons with disabilities—ensuring their voices and protection needs were central to local security strategies.
Police were trained to safeguard human rights during elections. Credit: OHCHR Liberia/ Studio Humanity
Rebuilding trust, ensuring safety
State security forces and police officers underwent rigorous training on rights-based approaches to electoral security. Instead of heavy-handed policing tactics that could provoke crowds, security actors deployed de-escalation strategies and community engagement techniques, guaranteeing a secure environment on election day.
A blueprint for locally-led stability
In a historic moment for Liberia’s democracy, the 2023 elections concluded peacefully with a remarkable 80 percent voter turnout—marking the first time the process was primarily organized and administered by Liberians.
While the initiatives did not erase Liberia's deep structural challenges overnight, they provided clear legal procedures, stronger community networks, and consistent institutional support. They ensured that Liberians had reliable early-warning mechanisms and functional channels to voice grievances without resorting to violence.
UN and partners monitored elections. Credit: OHCHR Liberia
Today, Liberia’s journey toward lasting stability continues. Backed by a local OHCHR presence, streamlined internal justice systems, and an empowered civil society, the country is proving despite a long and painful legacy of war, the road to a self-sustained, locally-led peace in Liberia is possible.
Our partners in peacebuilding in Liberia
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The initiatives in Liberia led by OHCHR, the UN Development Programme and the International Organization of Migration with critical support from the Liberian Government entities and local organizations - community-based, civil society, women and youth groups.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.
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