At the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, a unique convergence unfolded. Young leaders, national focal points, policymakers and peace practitioners gathered not to endorse familiar rhetoric, but to interrogate the real substance of what it will take to secure Africa’s future under the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. Convened by ACCORD with regional partners, the reflective seminar on YPS National Action Plans (NAPs) became a rare moment of continental honesty, clarity and renewed purpose.
Over the course of two days, the atmosphere was shaped not by celebration but by resolve. Delegates did not shy away from the realities that have marked the past decade. Instead, they confronted them head on, drawing lessons from lived experience, institutional gaps and the evolving political landscape in which young people are expected to lead.
What became evident throughout the discussions was that Africa’s youth are not fighting for space. They are fighting for systems strong enough to recognise, protect and sustain their leadership. Peace in Africa can no longer be imagined without young people as central actors. The question is how states will reflect this truth in the way they plan, govern and evaluate their commitments.
A core message emerged with striking consistency: young people do not want to be invited into processes that have already been decided. They are advocating for frameworks that position them as generational partners in the governance of peace and security. Delegates stressed that YPS NAPs must not be developed as symbolic documents. Their true value lies in their capacity to transform national systems by setting clear expectations for ministries, formalising youth roles and ensuring that institutions cannot bypass youth perspectives.
This requires more than drafting. It calls for countries to assess their existing governance landscape and determine where youth issues are missing, overlooked or misunderstood. It requires ministries to shift from ad hoc engagement to deliberate integration, and for governments to establish coordination structures that are clear, functional and accountable.
Youth participants emphasised that if NAPs are treated as static documents, they will lose relevance. These plans must be dynamic, evidence-informed and designed to evolve with political transitions and new forms of insecurity. Delegates called for these plans to be treated as living instruments that guide decision making rather than documents that gather dust.
The seminar went beyond theory. It drew attention to the pressures and obstacles that shape NAP development inside government systems. Youth peacebuilders shared experiences of political hesitation, bureaucratic delays and administrative processes that move slower than the urgency demanded by their contexts. They explored the emotional and practical demands of navigating institutions that are often overstretched or hesitant to adopt new responsibilities.
Despite these challenges, the room was filled with examples of resilience. Delegates spoke of youth networks that mobilised consultations across vast geographic and social divides. They unpacked how context specific approaches allowed countries to build their plans from the ground up rather than following externally imposed models. They reflected on the value of small but strategic wins such as establishing working groups, securing champions inside ministries and documenting existing youth initiatives that often operate unnoticed.
A recurring insight was the need for youth led initiatives to be institutionalised rather than treated as temporary. The challenge is not youth capacity. It is whether national systems can recognise what already exists and elevate it through sustained collaboration.
The seminar underscored that effective NAPs depend on multilevel partnerships. Delegates mapped the constellation of actors that should be involved in these processes, from youth councils and student bodies to community organisations, research institutions, ministries and regional economic communities.
What mattered most in these discussions was not the number of stakeholders, but the quality of cooperation. Youth highlighted that partnerships must be intentional and coordinated to avoid duplication. They stressed the importance of clarity on who does what, and the need for ministries to take responsibility for integrating YPS into national strategies rather than relying on external partners to carry out the process.
The conversations pointed to an important continental truth. NAPs are most effective when governments lead with conviction, youth contribute with legitimacy and partners support with respect for national ownership.
Delegates examined how technology, research and creative approaches can help countries accelerate their YPS work. From digital consultations to youth-led monitoring teams, the seminar highlighted practical approaches to expanding reach, strengthening data and enhancing visibility. Participants argued that real progress will come from recognising youth as producers of knowledge and drivers of solutions rather than simply beneficiaries of programmes.
They noted that evidence must guide decision-making, but evidence should include the stories, contributions and patterns of youth engagement that governments often overlook. They encouraged countries to build monitoring systems that are simple enough to be used and strong enough to influence policy.
The seminar ended with a clear message. Africa can no longer afford to treat youth inclusion as a gesture of goodwill. It must be a matter of governance and national security. Youth Peace and Security National Action Plans are not merely documents. They are instruments of accountability that help states translate continental aspiration into national action.
As Africa moves into the next decade of the YPS agenda, the work ahead will require bold vision, disciplined coordination and a commitment to doing things differently. The youth leaders at the seminar did not ask for space. They demonstrated that they already occupy it. What they asked for is a continental landscape in which institutions match their courage, respond to their realities and work with them to build a peaceful and resilient Africa.
As Africa moves into the next decade of the YPS agenda, the work ahead will require bold vision, disciplined coordination and a commitment to doing things differently.
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This seminar reaffirmed the importance of a continent-wide ecosystem of cooperation in which governments, youth and partners move together with clarity and purpose. The road ahead will not be simple, but it is unavoidable. Youth are not waiting to be included. They are ready to lead. The task now is to build the systems that allow them to do so.
Peace in Africa can no longer be imagined without young people as central actors. The question is how states will reflect this truth in the way they plan, govern and evaluate their commitments.
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Jessica Uiras is a Peacebuilder from Namibia
