Positive Peace Stories: Networking Youth Organizations in conflict contexts

The author, Emmanuel Singa, is a Member of the African Youth Advocacy Team (AYAT) as well as:

• An Associate Researcher at the Center for Research and Information on Disarmament and Security (CRIDS)
• Focal Point of CRIDS in the Central African Republic
• National Coordinator of SOS CIVISME Centrafrique
• Member of the African Union Pool of Experts on Peace and Security
• Independent Consultant on Peace and Security, Global Youth Ambassador Program

In the Central African Republic, youth-led civil society organizations play an important role in the peacebuilding process through multiple community mobilisation initiatives, mainly capacity building sessions and awareness campaigns.

In a context of conflict faced by Central African youth, the quantification of initiatives on the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS) and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) still remains a major challenge and requires the synergy and networking of youth organizations at local, national and regional levels. Youth-led Civil Society and community-based organisations can deepen their understanding, and their capacity to engage with and influence strategic policy development and implementation in peacebuilding at the strategic level, whilst also providing the African Union and Regional Economic Communities with real-time monitoring and evaluation of peacebuilding impacts at the local level, particularly with regard to the security of local communities and vulnerable groups (youth and women).

In a context of conflict faced by Central African youth, the quantification of initiatives on the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda (YPS) and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) still remains a major challenge

Although the African Union and the Economic and Regional Communities emphasise the crucial role of youth-led Civil Society Organisations in the various policy frameworks and other relevant instruments on peacebuilding, a set of constraints of the political order of limiting knowledge and capacity has tended to limit the role and impact of youth organizations in this area, particularly in conflict contexts.

Youth-led civil society organisations and community-based youth organisations in synergy can play an important role in promoting national and international tools on peace and security, becoming more involved in conflict prevention at the national level. In addition, young people can contribute to the work of citizen monitoring. Sharing of experiences and learning between peers can facilitate the analysis of successes and failures in the implementation of peacebuilding, especially the challenges and obstacles at the level of each country.

A set of recommendations were identified as part of an exchange and experience sharing mission between SOS CIVISME Central African Republic and Local Youth Corner Cameroon to share good practices on the various peacebuilding activities developed between these two members from different countries.

Recommendations:

• Carry out analysis and mapping of youth organizations working on the YPS Agenda in the Central African Republic
• Coordinate a national consultation on the YPS Agenda
• Facilitate a Capacity Building and Launching Workshop for Youth Organizations on the YPS Agenda
• Organise an official launch of the YPS Agenda at the national level
• Develop advocacy activities with the authorities on the peace and security youth agenda
• Set up pioneers for the creation of a national coalition
• Carry out national advocacy for the inclusion of young people in the peace and security process

Youth-led civil society organisations should harness the diversity of skills and expertise within their own ranks when they reflect existing areas of expertise/advocacy of Youth Organizations, such as training on countering Small Arms and Light Weapons / or Human Rights, Security Sector Reform / Disarmament, Hate Speech / Social Cohesion etc. This will facilitate co-creation of ideas and activities in matters of consolidation of peace between youth organizations at the local, national, regional, continental and international levels.

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