EFFECTIVENESS OF MIDDLE POWER PEACEBUILDING INITIATIVE: THE UNITED NATIONS PEACEBUILDING FUND

Abstract Middle powers have increasingly played a significant role in the peacebuilding activities in the world, especially in post-conflict areas, because their diplomatic capabilities and the spirit of multilateralism enable these powers to fill the gaps between the major powers and local interests. The effectiveness of middle power-led peacebuilding programs is considered in this article using the example of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF), examining how these nations help in post-conflict recovery. Through this approach the study concentrates on the comparative case study method by examining the particular role of the middle powers in enhancing sustainable peace within the countries that are affected by conflicts. The major implications of the key findings include the fact that the effectiveness of the middle powers depends on the capacity to build local ownership, proper coordination, and a long-term interest in the consistency of peacebuilding. The paper also determines what contributes to the success or loss of such initiatives, including political goodwill, distribution of resources, and the alignment of the local and international players. The paper is relevant to the field of peacebuilding theory in that it demonstrates the unique role that middle powers play in the international peacebuilding systems and gives policy suggestions on how to maximize this contribution of the middle powers.