On 18 September 2024, ACCORD, in collaboration with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Youth Forum, held a dialogue on Youth Action in Protracted Conflicts in the Great Lakes Region in Nairobi, Kenya.
The dialogue brought together members of the ICGLR Directorate and Youth Forum, the AYPS representative for Eastern Africa, and representatives from the Special Envoy of the United Nations for the Great Lakes Region and the Kenyan Ministry of Youth and Foreign Affairs. During the opening remarks, the President of the Regional Youth Forum, Mr. Jacob Eyeru, emphasised the need for youth inclusion in decision-making structures. He reiterated that while youth are today’s leaders, they need effective structures to ensure their impact.
Discussions focused on the role of youth in the conflicts around the Great Lakes Region, stressing the importance of meaningful youth representation in peacebuilding processes at both local and continental levels. The dialogue highlighted the impact of conflicts and the resulting challenges, such as limited access to education and economic opportunities, on peace and security. Participants called for targeted interventions to address these vulnerabilities.
Participants also emphasised the need for international organisations and civil society actors to develop capacity-building programmes that equip youth with the necessary skills for meaningful inclusion in peace processes.
In this context, ACCORD provided a three-day training on conflict management and analysis to the members of the youth forum, aligning with its strategic objectives of enhancing the roles of multi-dimensional stakeholders in responding to complex conflicts and promoting the role of youth in preventing, mitigating, and resolving such conflicts.
