Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces the historical and political context within which the Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA) was established, as well as the political compromises that needed to be negotiated to set up the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). It assesses the PBA's two main instruments, namely the PBC and the PBF The PBSO exists to support both the commission and the fund, and its role will be discussed in the context of the commission and fund. The book addresses institutional and policy impact by looking at two specific examples, namely gender and civilian capacity. It also assesses the impact of the PBA in five of the six countries that were on the PBC's agenda during this first decade, namely Burundi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea.