The mix here will be different from place to place, but the principle stays the same. In our involvement in peace processes a prominent feature has been close co-operation between Government and Civil society, using any venue that may contribute to contact, dialogue and reconciliation. We need to explore further how existing mechanisms such as the Resident Co-ordinator System and the strategic framework, can support comprehensive peace building. Since peace building is a very political exercise, it requires great political skills in SRSG s, and country representatives. Thirdly, peace building requires a long-term perspective .
Timing is of prime importance in many efforts.
But, tasks such as building local capacity in the civil and security sectors require long term efforts. While peacekeeping is funded through assessed contributions, long term development co-operation is financed through voluntary contributions. Political will to provide the necessary resources to sustain efforts over time is required. An increased focus on peace building should therefore be matched by a reversal in the decline of Official Development Assistance. Promises of long term perspectives sound hollow to local actors if they have not seen long term commitment.