Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) – Engagement and Empowerment Training Course

Introduction

Recognizing that young people are not merely victims of conflict but powerful agents of change, the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Agenda has emerged as a crucial framework for fostering sustainable peace. This 5-day training course on Youth, Peace, and Security – Engagement and Empowerment provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the vital roles young people play in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and post-conflict recovery. Participants will delve into the normative basis of the YPS agenda, explore innovative approaches for meaningful youth participation, and learn how to design programs that genuinely empower young people to lead peace initiatives and contribute to more inclusive and resilient societies.

This intensive program is designed for policymakers, peacebuilding practitioners, development professionals, humanitarian actors, youth leaders, civil society organizations, and UN staff working in conflict-affected and transitional contexts. It will equip attendees with the knowledge to identify the diverse experiences and needs of young people, challenge prevailing stereotypes, and develop strategies for fostering youth-led peace initiatives. By promoting a deeper understanding of the YPS agenda and its practical application, this course aims to empower participants to create environments where young people's voices are amplified, their rights are protected, and their immense potential for peace is fully realized.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience:

  • Youth leaders and representatives of youth organizations
  • Peacebuilding practitioners and program managers
  • Development professionals working on youth engagement and livelihoods
  • Government officials (Youth Ministries, Peace and Security portfolios)
  • UN agency staff (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, DPPA, PBSO)
  • Civil Society Organizations working with youth in conflict-affected areas
  • Researchers and academics in youth studies, peace and conflict studies
  • Policy makers and advocates for youth rights

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate the core principles and pillars of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Agenda.
  • Understand the diverse roles of young people in conflict, peace, and security contexts.
  • Analyze the challenges and opportunities for meaningful youth participation in peace processes.
  • Identify strategies for empowering youth and supporting youth-led peacebuilding initiatives.
  • Develop gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches to youth engagement in peace and security.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS)

  • Defining "youth" in diverse contexts and challenging stereotypes (e.g., youth as victims or perpetrators).
  • The imperative for the YPS Agenda: recognizing youth as positive agents of change.
  • Historical context and evolution of the YPS Agenda: UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535.
  • The "five pillars" of YPS: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Disengagement & Reintegration, Partnership.
  • The transformative potential of youth engagement for sustainable peace.

Module 2: Understanding Youth in Conflict and Peace Contexts

  • Diverse experiences of young people in conflict: victims, combatants, activists, community builders.
  • Push and pull factors influencing youth engagement in violence (e.g., marginalization, grievances, lack of opportunities).
  • The resilience and agency of young people in crisis.
  • The impact of conflict on youth development, education, and mental health.
  • Conducting youth-inclusive conflict analysis.

Module 3: Participation: Meaningful Youth Engagement in Peace Processes

  • Promoting youth participation in formal peace negotiations and mediation.
  • Youth engagement in political transitions and democratic processes.
  • The role of youth advisory bodies and youth networks in peacebuilding.
  • Challenges and barriers to meaningful youth participation.
  • Strategies for creating inclusive spaces for youth voices.

Module 4: Protection: Safeguarding Young People from Violence

  • Protecting young people from all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
  • Preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers and young combatants.
  • Addressing the specific protection needs of young refugees, IDPs, and migrants.
  • Ensuring access to justice and accountability for violations against youth.
  • Psychosocial support and mental health services for conflict-affected youth.

Module 5: Prevention: Youth as Drivers of Conflict Prevention

  • Youth-led initiatives for early warning and conflict prevention.
  • Education and peace education for youth: fostering critical thinking and resilience to extremism.
  • Addressing youth grievances through inclusive governance and economic opportunities.
  • The role of youth in countering violent extremism (CVE) through positive narratives.
  • Promoting intergenerational dialogue and collaboration for prevention.

Module 6: Disengagement & Reintegration, and Partnerships

  • Tailored approaches for the disengagement and reintegration of young ex-combatants.
  • Addressing the specific needs of youth associated with armed groups.
  • The importance of sustainable livelihoods and psychosocial support for reintegration.
  • Fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships for YPS: governments, UN, civil society, private sector.
  • Strengthening capacity and funding for youth-led organizations.

Module 7: Gender, Intersectionality, and Inclusive YPS Approaches

  • Understanding the gendered experiences of young men, young women, and gender diverse youth in conflict.
  • The importance of an intersectional lens: how age intersects with gender, disability, ethnicity, etc.
  • Empowering young women's leadership in peace and security.
  • Engaging young men in challenging harmful masculinities and promoting peace.
  • Designing YPS programs that are inclusive of all youth identities.

Module 8: Operationalizing YPS: Challenges, Best Practices, and Future Directions

  • Developing Youth, Peace, and Security National Action Plans (NAPs).
  • Mainstreaming YPS across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding programming.
  • Measuring the impact of youth engagement in peace processes.
  • Overcoming challenges: tokenism, resource limitations, security risks.
  • Emerging trends and innovations in the YPS field.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

Youth, Peace, And Security (yps) – Engagement And Empowerment Training Course in Kenya
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