The Role of Women and Youth in Peacebuilding Across the IGAD Region: Evidence, Case Examples, and Actionable Solutions.
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Introduction
The IGAD region continues to be associated with intricate and enduring conflicts caused by political instability, competition for resources, border conflicts, and internal displacement. It is within this fragile political and security setting that women and youth have emerged as central actors within peace-building processes.
Despite limited representation within formal decision-making forums, these segments have continued to display resilience and ingenuity within the arena of conflict prevention and resolution. Evidence on the impact and intervention from these groups will be reflected within this article, and an applicable solution will be outlined and incorporated within the IGAD plan for development.
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Contributions of Women in Peacebuilding
2.1 Grassroots Mediation and Community Dialogue
Women have been very important in conflict resolution, particularly with regards to pastoralist and inter-clan conflicts.
Case Example – Kenya (Marsabit and Wajir):
Women peace committees in northern Kenya have been successful in mediating inter-community conflicts among clans and preventing retaliatory attacks with the help of elderly leaders. Their position outside clan hierarchies enables them to shuttle between competing groups and broker a ceasefire and a peace grazing deal.
2.2 Humanitarian Response and Resilience Building
Women usually take charge of humanitarian efforts at local levels.
Case Example – South Sudan:
Women’s groups have played an integral role in assisting displaced families, offering psychosocial support, and food distribution efforts following violence flare-ups in Bor and Torit counties. Their efforts have acted as a catalyst for enhancing relationship rebuilding among returnees and members of host communities.
2.3 Advocacy and Policy Engagement
Networks for women remain committed to promoting representation within peace talks.
Case Example – Somalia:
Organizations representing Somali women played an important role in lobbying for the passage of 30% gender representation within parliament, thus giving women a voice within political decision-making.
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Contributions of Youth in Peacebuilding
3.1 Early Warning and Digital Peacebuilding
Youth use technology as a way to prevent conflict escalation.
CASE EXAMPLE – ETHIOPIA (OROMIA)
Youth online platforms in the region have been employed as tools for reporting violence incidents, tracking hate speech, and disseminating conflict alerts to local authorities and peace committees. Misinformation and violence have thus been countered.
3.2 Social Cohesion and Community Service
Youth volunteering groups usually engage in inter-community projects that build trust.
Case Example – Uganda:
Youth peace ambassadors operating in Karamoja and West Nile regions engage and organize activities such as sports, music, and cultural dialogues involving refugees, local communities, and youth from opposing groups.
3.3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Stability
Most Youth participate in economic peacebuilding through the establishment of livelihoods that make them less vulnerable to conflict recruitment.
Example – Somalia and Sudan:
Youth cooperative sectors involving local NGOs have launched Agribusiness Hubs, Fishing Hubs, and Digital Working Hubs, among others, thus providing an alternative to violence.
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Joint Contributions of Women and Youth
Women and young people often work together to overcome societal gaps and build peace infrastructure.
Joint women and youth caravans have engaged in peace missions as peace messengers and have communicated messages about coexistence, conflict hotspot reports, and also gathered community messages for inclusion into peace forums at the county and national levels as seen in the pastoralist borderlands region of Kenya-Ethiopia-and South Sudan
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Obstacles that Restrict Their Engagement
Despite these contributions, there remain some challenges for women:
- Lack of representation within institutional peace frameworks
- Traditions on women and leadership roles
- Youth marginalization within political processes
- Lack of budgetary support for community-based
- Unemployment and Vulnerability to Manipulation
- Integration of Local Peace Initiatives with National Policies
These challenges underscore the importance and need for comprehensive and sustainable solutions within the IGAD Development Agenda.
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WORKABLE SOLUTIONS FOR INTEGRATION INTO THE IGAD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
6.1 Institutionalize Inclusion in Peace Processes
- Implement compulsory women and youth representation quotas in peace committees, cross border bodies, and national peace processes.
- Promote national implementation of UNSCR 1325 and youth peace and security agendas (UNSCR 2250, 2419, 2535
6.2 Strengthen Community-Based Peace Infrastructure
- Strengthen women and youth peace committees at scale in border towns in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
- Establish cross-border early warning networks and link these to IGAD’s CEWARN system.
6.3 Invest in Economic Empowerment as Peacebuilding
- Offer grants and micro-financing facilities for women- and youth-headed businesses operating within fragile regions.
- Link peace economy initiatives with IGAD’s resilience and climate change agenda.
6.4 Expand Digital Peacebuilding Tools
- Develop regional innovation hubs involving youth in preventing conflict, digital literacy, combating misinformation, and peace messaging.
- Partnership with telecommunication firms for early warning reporting systems.
6.5 Capacity Building for Sustainable Peace Leadership
- Develop capacity among women and youth on mediation, conflict analysis, negotiation, linkages, and community dialogues.
- Launch a regional WPS–YPS leadership academy under IGAD.
6.6 Cross Border Peace Initiatives
- Establish cross-border cultural festivals, peace caravans, and exchange programs.
- Enhance IGAD’s cross-border program to include women and youth as main actors.
6.7 Improve Funding and Policy Harmonization
- Establish specific budget allocations for implementing WPS and YPS initiatives within the IGAD development plan.
- Ensure harmony and consistency among peace-building policies among member nations for promoting cooperation with women and youth.
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Conclusion
Women and youth are at the core of sustainable peace efforts within the IGAD region. Their peace efforts and undertakings within mediation, early warning, resilience, and social cohesion prove that women and youth peace involvement leads to sustainable peace.
By incorporating these solutions above into its project plan, IGAD will be able to improve regional stability and resilience as well as enable women and youth to meaningfully participate and build peaceful futures for the Horn region.
Article By: Irvin Gathuku
Nairobi, Kenya
