19 Nov 2020 -  Theme: Fostering global solidarity and conflict sensitive responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts

In the past year, the challenges of the COVID-19 and the pandemic that ensued have further underscored the imperative of enhanced collaboration between ECOSOC and the PBC to advance inclusive and conflict-sensitive responses to help address the present health and humanitarian crisis and contribute to peace and development, particularly in conflict-affected countries.

The objectives of the meeting of ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission are to: i) Increase awareness of the complex challenges related to COVID-19 with emphasis on the pandemic’s impact on socio-economic development and peacebuilding; ii) Promote the sharing of information and knowledge on the experiences of countries across the world in responding to COVID-19 and its impacts, especially for the benefit of conflict affected countries; iii) Identify opportunities for coordinated and coherent action, with the support of the international community in post-COVID recovery, with emphasis on financing for sustainable development and peacebuilding in countries affected by crisis and conflict; and, iv) Consider options for predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding, including ways of scaling up PBF investments in countries that seek such assistance.