Engaging the Potential of Youth as Peacebuilders in Africa
How USAID supports youth as partners in development, diplomacy, and global stability
Young changemakers around the world hold the potential to reduce violence and extremism in their lifetimes.
How the United States engages with these young changemakers and their networks could determine whether they view the United States as a legitimate long-term partner or look to other countries for support instead. Our approach to engaging this new generation is both cost-effective and can lead to long-term partners for peacebuilding in fragile regions.
These youth are using innovation to leverage development, influence diplomacy, and work with security forces to push back against Boko Haram in West Africa and Al Shabab in Somalia. Collectively, they work to de-radicalize prisons, reintegrate child soldiers, and increase the voices of young people in peace processes. They are examples of how USAID invests in youth leadership programs that support youth as active collaborators not just in our international development work, but our diplomatic and global stability efforts, as well...