ACCORD, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD’s) Department of Political Affairs, Mediation and Peacebuilding organised a Regional Youth Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, from 12- 14 November 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Dialogue built on several efforts undertaken by IGAD that included the launch of the IGAD Youth Forum for Peace in 2021; and a series of capacity-building training initiatives for youth from various IGAD Member States, such as South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Recently, IGAD appointed a Youth Envoy to facilitate youth-related issues and offer representation in decision-making within the organisation.
The Dialogue convened representatives of the youth councils where the exchange of information shared created better awareness on the role of IGAD, and how it can support youth efforts in the region. The presentation on the various youth frameworks also helped to better inform the group on how to institutionalise youth efforts at the national level.
The IGAD Youth Envoy also had the opportunity to present the IGAD 2023 Youth Policy that brought awareness to the participants on IGAD’s strategic commitments to youth efforts in the region. Through this process, the participants were able to identify avenues to strengthen their collaboration with IGAD, particularly through the IGAD country offices. Over the course of the three days participants noted recommendations that would feed into the Implementation Plan for the Youth Policy that the Youth Envoy has commenced drafting.
A session, on ‘The Role of Young People in IGAD Member States in Addressing Peace and Security Issues and Engaging in Peace Processes’ enabled participants to partake in a discussion on the value of encouraging youth to be more involved in decision making and in peace processes. They were able to share the efforts that youth have undertaken particularly in countries that are in post conflict situations. The next steps will include the drafting of the IGAD Implementation Plan for the IGAD Youth Policy that will undergo a series of consultations prior to being finalised. ACCORD will remain engaged with IGAD on the process, and will continue to provide its support to IGAD on further YPS initiatives.
