The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) has concluded a workshop aimed at empowering young Africans to become effective peacebuilders.

The two-day Learning Design and Development (LDD) workshop brought together experts to finalise a training manual designed to equip youth leaders with essential skills in peace and security.

Supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), this initiative acknowledges the critical role young people play in fostering peace and security across Africa. With its large youth population, the continent holds immense potential for positive change.

However, socioeconomic challenges often limit young people's involvement in peacebuilding. Additionally, they are disproportionately affected by conflict and sometimes become involved in social issues such as election violence and cybercrime.

KAIPTC’s Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) programme seeks to address these challenges by strengthening youth leadership skills and promoting their active participation in peacebuilding efforts. Central to this programme is the development of a comprehensive training manual, which draws on stakeholder consultations and expert input.

The LDD workshop was a crucial step in creating a curriculum that effectively tackles the challenges young people face. Participants included representatives from various organisations, such as the UNFPA Africa Regional Office, the Commonwealth Students Council, the All-Africa Students Union, the International Peace Support Training Centre (ISPSTC) of Kenya, the National Youth Authority (NYA), and civil society groups working on youth, peace, and security across Africa.

The training manual covered key topics including leadership and ethics, advocacy and activism, peacebuilding principles, project management, communication for leadership, negotiation and mediation, emerging security threats, and resource management.

KAIPTC officials believe that this manual will significantly benefit young leaders by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge for making effective contributions to peacebuilding.

Joana Osei-Tutu, the acting Deputy Director of KAIPTC's Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI), highlighted the importance of the manual’s development within the broader YPS Programme.

She said, "The development of the training manual reflects a commitment to enhancing youth leadership capacities and will provide program models for key areas such as leadership and ethics, advocacy and activism, peacebuilding principles, project management, and resource management."

Ms. Osei-Tutu expressed confidence that the workshop’s expertise would lead to the creation of a resource that truly meets the needs and aspirations of young African leaders.

Fatuma Muhumed, the Programme Specialist at the UNFPA's West and Central Africa Regional Office responsible for Youth, Peace, and Security, recognised the existing capacity gaps among young people.

She underscored the importance of the manual, based on the work of KAIPTC and its partners in East and West Africa, in scaling up capacity-building efforts and contributing effectively to regional peace and security.

She expressed hope that the workshop would provide valuable insights for developing a manual that empowers young people to become active promoters of peace and security in Africa.