Today we celebrate the International Day of Peace. This year’s theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, could not be timelier in a fractured world.

Global events remind us of a simple truth: peace is in crisis. We have recorded the highest number of armed conflicts between states since the Second World War. One in four people – around two billion worldwide – now live in countries affected by conflict and violence.

Wars erase decades of progress in days and put development at risk, a cost we cannot afford. We must recognize that development is the stabilizing force for humanity. Peace rests on the rule of law, justice, trust, and economic opportunity. It is the foundation of security, stability, and sustainable development. Without peace, progress unravels. With peace, societies can thrive.

But the world’s priorities remain dangerously misaligned. In 2024, governments spent $2.7 trillion on military budgets. Only a fraction of that figure ($47.2billion) went to peacekeeping missions and peacebuilding initiatives. Evidence shows that investing in prevention and protecting development is the safer way to reduce future conflict, ensure global security, and safeguard hard-won progress.

Working as part of the UN family, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), invests in peace. More than half of UNDP’s budget is dedicated to fragile and crisis-affected settings. Crisis resilience is one of the priorities of our Strategic Plan. Our country presence and the ability to work in complex environments means that we are present throughout the conflict cycle – before, during, and after. Our commitment is clear: we stay and deliver, and we sustain peace through development investments, building inclusive governance systems.

In the Sahel region, UNDP supports insider mediators, counters hate speech and prevents violent extremism. We also promote stabilization efforts that put inclusion and community leadership at the centre. In Mauritania, we are supporting the authorities in developing a national prevention strategy that is locally owned and creates peace dividends tangible for the people. In Colombia, survivors of violence are gaining access to justice and truth mechanisms that bring institutions closer to communities.

Across all our interventions, UNDP continues to play a vital role in advancing the Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security agendas, recognizing young people and women as essential partners and leaders in building inclusive, just, and peaceful societies.

Peace is built. It is the outcome of sustained action, local leadership, and collective investment in a world where development and security go hand-in-hand. Simply put: invest in development, and you invest in lasting peace. #PeaceDay