“We can’t afford not to invest in prevention and peacebuilding” – that’s the view of newly-minted UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar.

In an interview with UN News, she gave the example of the effectiveness of the Peacebuilding Fund in the Gambia, where UN agencies have supported nationwide consultations on truth and reconciliation. One beneficiary testified that Gambians “now aspire to live in peace in this country.”

Ms. Spehar spoke at length to Liz Scaffidi, about the critical importance of building peace and her role in making that happen.