The FriEnt Peacebuilding Forum (PBF) is the biennial flagship conference of FriEnt (Working Group on Peace and Development) and a globally oriented community event. It convenes experts and practitioners from government and civil society across the so-called Global South and North to explore key challenges in peacebuilding and civilian crisis prevention and to highlight best practices, lessons learned, and practical solutions. The Forum fosters diverse perspectives, strategic learning and constructive dialogue, creating space for practitioners and policymakers to jointly generate ideas and forward-looking impetus for peacebuilding.

In a volatile world increasingly shaped by a security discourse focused on threat and deterrence, the Peacebuilding Forum 2026 deliberately sends a strong signal by underscoring the importance of peacebuilding, civilian crisis prevention and development-oriented peacebuilding as foundations for just, lasting, and sustainable peace and security.

Against this backdrop, this year’s PBF addresses a central strategic question: What transformative pathways are needed to advance sustainable and just peace in an increasingly fragmented world?

The PBF brings together approximately 150 invited participants, including members of the FriEnt network, representatives of the German Bundestag and federal ministries, international partner organisations, state and civil society actors from the so-called Global South and Global North, as well as policy experts in peacebuilding, civilian crisis prevention, international development, and international security.