What We Learnt From The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Regional Multifunctional Youth Forum
Participants pose for a joint photo after the official opening of the Forum.
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is an Intergovernmental Organization created by the Heads of State and Government of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in December 2006 through the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region. The ICGLR Heads of State and Government also endorsed the creation of the ICGLR Regional Multifunctional Youth Forum (RMYF) to champion the interests of the youth at the national, regional and global level.
The RMYF is a platform set up under the Pact on Security, Stability and Development signed in 2006 by Heads of States of the Great Lakes Region. The ICGLR Regional Multifunctional Youth Forum Accord was negotiated and signed on 24th July 2014 by Youth Representatives from the Member States highlighting the main objectives of the Forum, which are to provide for a platform for exchange of experiences and good practices, establish lasting alliances for dialogue and consultation, develop advocacy strategies and a culture of tolerance and peace at the regional level and to promote the role of the youth in peace, security and development processes, including access to information and participation in good governance and democratic processes at the national and regional level.
Other objectives are to advocate for the participation of the youth in the elaboration of development and job creation policies in order to ensure that youth priorities and concerns are addressed; to promote dialogue between the youth and decision makers; and to reinforce the capacities of youth organizations of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in coordinating, networking and educating the population on their role in the promotion of peace, human and women rights, rule of law, democracy and good governance in the Great Lakes Region.
The ICGLR Member States are: Angola, Burundi, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central Africa Republic, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.
Covid - 19 has had a great impact on our way of working. It has created a new normal which has compelled everybody to adjust to the new context of engagement. All ICGLR Member States instituted measures to manage the spread of CoronaVirus. This has placed the youth, majority of whom work in the informal sector, in a very precarious situation with increased unemployment during this moment. With existing security challenges in some Member States, more attention is required to engage the youth of the region.
The 8th Ordinary ICGLR Summit of Heads of State and Government meeting held on 20th November 2020 in their communique at decision 29 endorsed the Development of a Regional Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region. This is also to be cascaded at National Level in ICGLR Member States. Kenya’s new position as a Non-permanent Member in the UNSC from January 2021 to December 2022 creates a strong opportunity for the region to rely on pushing the peace and security agenda.
In that regard, a consultative meeting on Youth, Peace and Security was held on the 10th February, 2021 as a follow up on the ICGLR Summit decision. The consultation meeting was held to engage the youth of the region, policy makers and development partners on the status of the youth during Covid -19 and re-examine pragmatic modalities on engaging and supporting the youth.
The meeting assessed the implementation of the ICGLR Heads of State and Government Declaration on Youth Unemployment and the Pact on Security, Stability and development. Further, it looked at ways of developing the ICGLR Regional Action Plan on UNSC Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security as adopted by the ICGLR Heads of State and Government during their 8th Ordinary Summit held on 20th November 2020. The meeting also received presentations on the UNSCR 1325 process for peer learning. This came on the heels of a developments in the region, including elections in the Republic of Burundi, Tanzania and Central Africa Republic.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid (physical and virtual) at Daystar University Auditorium, Valley Road, Nairobi, with strict adherence to Ministry of Health Regulations. The participatory Forum included an opening ceremony, panel presentations and plenaries at selected intervals with comments, questions and answers session. The objectives of the Youth Consultation Meeting was to bring together key stakeholders of the Great Lakes Region to engage with the youth of the region in shaping the Youth, Peace and Security agenda. The meeting further looked at opportunities to engage the Youth and come up with key deliverables to be presented to the ICGLR Committee of Ministers of Youth in their next Ordinary Session for their support.
The meeting also engaged with policy makers and development partners to support the youth through creating an interactive platform for both the youth and policymakers on youth, peace and security; sharing experience and best practice from the different youth actors and
women, peace and security actors; engaging the policy makers and development partners to support youth initiatives; sharing decisions adopted by the ICGLR Summit of Heads of State and Government on 20th November, 2020 at the 8th Ordinary Session; and taking stock of the current context and devising modalities of engagement.
The meeting developed a Report and wide-reaching Recommendations ranging from the need for an effective and dynamic ICGLR Youth Forum; a clear roadmap for future engagements; commitment on mobilization of resources to support the youth; Sharing of best practices and challenges experienced in the implementation of the Pact to drawing up options for strengthening the role of the Youth Forum in the implementation of the Pact.
Some of the notable speakers at the Forum included Prof. Laban P. Ayiro, Vice Chancellor, Daystar University; Amb. Nyambura Kamau, ICGLR National Coordinator, Republic of Kenya; Ms. Hortense Minishi, Save the Children International; H.E. Erik Lundberg, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland; H.E. Sianga Abilio, Ambassador of Angola, Chair, ICGLR; Hon. Nadia Abdalla, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. The official Opening Speech was given by the Chief Guest, Hon. Ken Lusaka, Speaker of Senate, Republic of Kenya
The Youth Cafe’s Executive Director, Willice Onyango spoke at the panel conference on UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security and presented highlighting our work on Peace and Security based on The Youth Cafe’s Theory of Change. As an organization, we work with young men and women to achieve positive contributions through active engagements and participation in the maintenance and promotion of local and international peace and security, and advocating for the prevention of violent extremism through media platforms(social, mainstream, digital).
Mr Onyango also spoke about his book Chapter contribution to an upcoming book titled Securitizing Youth: Young People's Roles in the Global Peace and Security Agenda. Securitizing Youth offers new insights on young people’s engagement in a wide range of contexts related to the peace and security field. It presents empirical findings on the challenges and opportunities faced by young women and men in their efforts to build more peaceful, inclusive, and environmentally secure societies.
The chapters included in this edited volume examine the diversity and complexity of young people’s engagement for peace and security in different countries across the globe and in different types and phases of conflict and violence, including both conflict-affected and relatively peaceful societies. Chapter contributors, young peacebuilders, and seasoned scholars and practitioners alike propose ways to support youth’s agency and facilitate their meaningful participation in decision-making. The chapters are organized around five broad thematic issues that correspond to the 5 Pillars of Action identified by UN Security Council Resolution 2250. Lessons learned are intended to inform the global youth, peace, and security agenda so that it better responds to on-the-ground realities, hence promoting more sustainable and inclusive approaches to long-lasting peace. In his chapter, Mr. Onyango looks at digital media as the next frontier of fighting violent extremism.
To find more about The Youth Cafe’s work on Youth, Peace and Security, check out our Theory of Change and contact us with any questions or suggestions.