In August 2025, youth peacebuilders from across Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA) met in Addis Ababa for a training on the essentials of fundraising.
Why fundraising?
Financial sustainability can be a significant barrier to the work of young peacebuilders, and in 2024, 83% of ESA members reported struggles with fundraising. In response, members from the region created a Regional Fundraising Committee to face fundraising challenges together. Building on these efforts, this regional training focused on turning fundraising from an obstacle into a tool to sustain youth, peace and security initiatives across ESA.
A quick recap of a packed programme
Over three days, participants dove into: donor mapping, proposal writing, and diversifying resources. Practical sessions varied from drafting real proposals to role-playing donor meetings.
Team building moments such as a visit to Entoto Park, energisers, and cultural exchanges strengthened connections between members, facilitating cross-border collaboration.
On the final day, participants were joined by the African Youth Advocacy Team for a roundtable with institutions and stakeholders based in Addis Ababa, to collectively strategize on scaling sustainable peace solutions across Africa, and explore partnerships at national and regional levels.
Beyond delivering concrete tools such as templates, donor lists and action plans, the training fuelled members’ confidence, creativity, and the shared conviction:
ይቻላል: Yichalal: it’s possible, it’s doable!
Fundraising lessons that stay with us!
CLARITY: proposals that tell a real story help youth groups connect with donors and show they can manage resources responsibly
CREATIVITY: from community events to crowdfunding, participants tested fresh ways to diversify resources
COLLABORATION: by working with peers and larger NGOs, youth groups saw how collective action multiplies impact
TRANSPARENCY: simple, accountable practices built trust and strengthened solidarity, so no organisation faces fundraising challenges alone
What's next?
The training may have ended but collective fundraising efforts in ESA are ongoing. Participants concluded the week with a renewed sense of solidarity, and made commitments to stay connected, continue to invest in the regional fundraising committee, and support each other by exchanging opportunities and sharing success stories. What emerged most clearly was a shared realisation: no one is alone in this work. Moving forwards is possible when common challenges are faced together.
“Online it feels like we all work individually, but in this space I saw how we can work together”
– Susan Jarqueen Wamalwa
This training was organised in partnership with Positive Peace Ethiopia and facilitated by Ethiopis Tadesse. It was funded by the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-funded by the European Commission, under the “Funding Peace in ESA” initiative.