ACCORD, in partnership with the Ethiopian Youth Council and the Kenyan National Youth Council, convened an exchange workshop on the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 06–08 November 2025. The workshop served as a platform for sharing youth engagement practices and success stories from Ethiopia and Kenya, fostering a deeper understanding of context-specific, locally grounded approaches to advancing the YPS agenda.
The workshop was guided by key global and continental frameworks, including United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535, as well as the African Union Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security. These frameworks guided participants in exploring practical tools, exchanging experiences, and collaboratively designing strategies to strengthen inclusive peacebuilding processes.
Participants were introduced to the Impact Framework for measuring peace outcomes, the Vital Signs of a Healthy Society, and the key stages of developing a National Action Plan. Discussions underscored the importance of youth-led processes, inclusivity, gender responsiveness, and the need for measurable and sustainable results. The workshop further provided an opportunity to enhance the capacity of Ethiopian stakeholders to advance the YPS agenda through learning from the Kenyan experience and aligning contextual needs with emerging regional best practices. Furthermore, it highlighted the five pillars of the YPS agenda and emphasized the importance of understanding these pillars as interconnected elements rather than isolated domains. This integrated approach was emphasized as essential for achieving a meaningful and lasting impact.
A key message from the workshop was the recognition that young people are already contributing significantly to national economies and social cohesion. Youth should therefore be viewed not as problems to be solved, but as partners and assets whose potential yields long-term dividends. Investing in young people is ultimately an investment in sustainable peace and development.
The discussions also encouraged a shift in narrative regarding youth engagement in contexts of violence. Instead of focusing solely on why young people join armed groups, the workshop prompted participants to ask transformative questions such as, “Why do young people choose peace?” This reframing encourages more constructive policy thinking and reveals opportunities for resilience-based interventions.
During the workshop, the Ethiopian Youth Council visited the offices of the National Youth Council of Kenya, where they held discussions with its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Gloria Wawira. The engagement focused on the Council’s ongoing programmes, its role in supporting youth development at the national level, and opportunities for future collaboration to strengthen regional cooperation on the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda. This exchange workshop contributes to enhancing partnerships among key stakeholders and promoting meaningful youth participation, cross-border learning, and collaboration across the region.
