Young peacebuilders: Funding matters, but so do trust and partnerships

Young Peacebuilders: Funding Matters, But So Do Trust and Partnerships

Young peacebuilders - During the inaugural UN Peacebuilding Week, a gathering of young peacebuilders convened at the UN Headquarters to share insights on how they can contribute to fostering peace in regions marked by instability and division. While financial support is undeniably crucial, the participants stressed that sustaining their initiatives requires more than just money—it demands a strong foundation of trust and meaningful collaborations.

Jenn Hernandez on Youth and Private Sector Engagement

Jenn Hernandez, representing the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders from the USA and Guatemala, highlighted the growing interest among young women in conflict zones to partner with the private sector. She explained that many in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia have expressed a desire to gain technical skills and leverage corporate resources to amplify their impact. “Youth aren’t just asking for funding—they’re seeking ways to build sustainable relationships with organizations that can support their vision,” she noted.

“We spoke to a lot of women in the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia regions, who told us they want to partner with the private sector and learn more technical skills.”

Issah Toha Shamsoo on the Urgency of Youth Action

Issah Toha Shamsoo, a member of the African Students for Interfaith Tolerance in Ghana, underscored the immediacy of youth involvement in peacebuilding. “Young people aren’t waiting for the perfect moment—they’re acting now,” he said. His perspective was shaped by a 2019 event where he witnessed a violent attack in New Zealand and questioned the global pattern of conflict. “I thought, ‘Why is this happening in the world?’” he recalled. That moment inspired him to bring together diverse voices, unaware that his efforts were part of a broader peacebuilding strategy.

“Young people aren’t waiting. We’re not waiting because in 2019 when I watched the news, and I saw that there was this attack on people in New Zealand, I thought, ‘Why is this happening in the world?’”

Linda Dempah on Business and Stability

Linda Dempah, founder of Laboratoires Adeba, a biocosmetics company in Côte d’Ivoire, emphasized the role of economic stability in promoting peace. She explained that the true value of peace becomes evident when it is absent. “In Côte d’Ivoire, we’ve lived through a history of coups, civil war, and periods of instability,” she said. “Having a business creates a stable environment, as individuals with secure livelihoods are less likely to fuel conflict or join armed groups.”

“We don’t really realize how important peace is until we don’t have it. In Côte d’Ivoire we have a very tumultuous history of coups, civil war and periods of instability.”

Yahya Qanie on Challenges in Afghanistan

Yahya Qanie, part of the National Youth Consensus for Peace in Afghanistan, shared the obstacles faced by youth in the region. “When I started working on youth empowerment and peacebuilding, we were often told, ‘You don’t have enough experience,’” he recounted. Securing funding was equally difficult, with initial support limited to less than $700. “This small amount barely covered basic needs,” he said, reflecting on the stark contrast between past and present conditions in Afghanistan.

“When I started working on youth empowerment and youth peacebuilding in Afghanistan, we were constantly told, ‘You don’t have enough experience.’ There was also a very high bar for securing funding. At one point, we weren’t able to access more than $700.”

John Koester on Funding the Ecosystem

John Koester, a representative of the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace in the USA, argued that funding should extend beyond individual projects to support the entire ecosystem. “A significant portion of time is spent on activities that are unfunded, such as relationship-building and networking,” he explained. “These efforts are vital for long-term success but often go unnoticed.”

“What we’re also stressing is the need to fund the ecosystem, not just individual projects. You spend easily upwards of 40 per cent of your time on activities that are unfundable.”

Felipe Paullier on Youth as Partners

Felipe Paullier, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, called for integrating youth into financial frameworks as equal partners. “There are a series of principles that need to be embedded in financing structures to ensure they respond effectively to young people’s needs,” he said. These include recognizing the value of intergenerational collaboration and fostering trust in youth-led initiatives. “My hope is that these principles are included in at least one of the global UN financing mechanisms,” he added, advocating for systemic changes to empower youth.

“There are a series of principles that need to be embedded in financing structures to be responsive to youth and which need to consider young people as real partners.”

Pio Smith on National Action Plans

Pio Smith, interim Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, pointed out that national action plans often prioritize vision over implementation. “These plans are great on paper, but they frequently lack the necessary budget and resources to make them a reality,” he said. This shortfall, he argued, undermines the long-term goals of peacebuilding. “Youth agendas require sustained investment, and this is where we must work closely with our Member States,” he emphasized.

“I see a lot of work around national action plans which are great on vision, but low on budget and resource mobilization, low in terms of supporting and financing an agenda that is implemented over a course of many years.”

Broader Implications for Peacebuilding

The discussions revealed a shared understanding that peacebuilding is not just about immediate action but also about creating resilient systems. Participants from various regions stressed the importance of addressing structural issues, such as the suppression of civil society and the erosion of trust in youth leadership. In Afghanistan, for example, the closure of civic spaces under the Taliban has restricted opportunities for young people to voice their concerns. “Youth voices face repercussions, and schools are becoming breeding grounds for radicalization,” Qanie warned.

Across the globe, young peacebuilders are advocating for a multifaceted approach that combines funding, partnerships, and long-term strategies. Their work is a testament to the power of youth in shaping the future of conflict-affected societies. By investing in their capabilities and ensuring their inclusion in decision-making processes, the international community can lay the groundwork for lasting peace.