Hosted by the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP) and co-organized by UNOG and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland, the event explored the UN’s evolving role in sustaining and advancing multilateral cooperation and International Geneva’s capacity to drive it forward. The discussion took place ahead of the UN’s 80th anniversary, underscoring the Organization’s transformative legacy and the urgent need to adapt multilateral cooperation to an increasingly complex international system.

Keith Krause opened his remarks by reflecting on the limits of institutional self-congratulation, noting that “if we step outside the Geneva or UN bubble, we see that the UN is not broadly viewed as relevant by much of the public, nor is it often at the table on major issues. It does not represent the 'go to' for mediation or peacemaking; neither in Gaza, nor DRC, Rwanda, nor Ukraine, nor Armenia-Azerbaijan, or elsewhere.” He pointed to systemic paralysis across the organization and emphasized the importance of moving beyond inward-facing reform debates toward practical, context-sensitive innovation.

Krause outlined four defining features shaping the global landscape for peace and security: declining funding for multilateral engagement; a shift in power toward local and non-state actors; the rise of powerful corporate and transnational networks; and a short-term, transactional geopolitical environment marked by weakened commitments to global public goods.

In response to these trends, he proposed three key approaches for rethinking the UN’s role:

• embracing “minilateralism”—instead of speaking about “multilateralism” and global frameworks, we need to look towards “minilateral” arrangements of a “flexible geometry,”
• adopting an “ecosystem approach” to global challenges that recognizes the UN as one actor among many within a broader constellation of public, private, and civil society forces, and
• following the principle of subsidiarity, in which the UN should do what no one else can do for as short a time as necessary.

He concluded with a reflection on the metaphors presented in the brief for this panel that spoke of the global peace and security architecture. He noted this was a strong metaphor – and it tempts people to think of themselves as “architects” – builders, engineers, designers of blueprints and templates:

“The world today does not need more institutional architects or engineers. What it needs is a dose of humility. Perhaps the better metaphor is that of midwives—change for better or worse, will be driven by forces and actors at the local level, external and higher-level actors should only take the lead on those efforts and tasks that cannot be performed at a more local level.”

This panel formed part of Geneva Peace Week, a leading annual forum in the international peacebuilding calendar that brings together organizations across Geneva and their global partners to share knowledge and practice across contexts and disciplines.

Since its establishment in 2008, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP) has served as a vital hub connecting diverse actors engaged in peacebuilding and peacekeeping. To ensure the sustainability of this mission, the CCDP, together with DCAF – the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, the Geneva Graduate Institute, and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), played a pivotal role in establishing the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform Foundation. The newly formed foundation continues to oversee GPP activities, maintaining its role as a key convener for the global peacebuilding community.

The CCDP acknowledges the foundational contributions of Keith Krause, CCDP Director, and Achim Wennmann, CCDP Faculty Associate, whose leadership and vision were instrumental in the creation and evolution of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.

With a global network of over 4,000 peacebuilding professionals, the GPP continues to advance collaboration, innovation, and critical reflection across the peacebuilding field—an enduring testament to Geneva’s role as a center for global peace dialogue.

Learn more about the panel event here.