Young People Advocacy Network (YPAN)

Ahead of its deployment across #Guinea 🇬🇳, the #AUEOM has commenced briefing sessions for observers, providing key insights into the country’s electoral context and processes for the 28 December 2025 Presidential Election. In line with its election observation methodology, the Head of the #AUEOM to the Republic of Guinea - H.E. @DomitienNdayizeye has been holding consultations with the #Guinea 🇬🇳 government officials and other stakeholders ahead of the 2025 Presidential Election. #Elections2025 #AfricanUnion

Session on Youth Empowerment Programmes at Continental, Regional and National Levels and their Intersection with Youth, Peace and Security. Key Outcomes: 1. Youth Recognised as Peace and Development Actors: The panel reaffirmed that youth empowerment programmes must intentionally position young people as agents of peace, economic transformation, and governance, rather than as beneficiaries or security risks. Youth economic inclusion, political participation, and innovation were highlighted as core pillars of sustainable peace. 2. Stronger Alignment Across Continental, Regional and National Frameworks: The discussion underscored the importance of aligning youth empowerment initiatives with Agenda 2063, Vision 2040/2060, and National Action Plans on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). Coherence across AU, RECs, and Member States was identified as essential to maximize impact and avoid fragmented interventions. 3. Economic Empowerment as a Peace Dividend: Access to finance, markets, and technology for young entrepreneurs—particularly in agriculture, agrifood systems, and emerging value chains—was recognized as a critical peacebuilding tool. Public–private partnerships and youth-tailored financial mechanisms were highlighted as effective enablers of stability and resilience. 4. From Capacity Building to Skills Through Practice: Panelists emphasized the need to move beyond traditional training models toward experiential learning, apprenticeships, innovation hubs, and “learning by doing” approaches, especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts where unemployment and exclusion heighten conflict risks. 5. Meaningful Youth Inclusion in Governance and Electoral Processes: The session stressed that youth participation in policy dialogue, peace processes, and electoral systems must be substantive rather than symbolic. Inclusive governance was identified as a preventive measure against conflict and political violence involving or affecting youth. 6. Regional Responses to Conflict, Climate and Humanitarian Crises: The panel highlighted the role of regional mechanisms, including IGAD, in integrating youth into responses to conflict, climate-induced mobility, and humanitarian crises. Youth-led solutions in agriculture, climate adaptation, and the blue economy were identified as entry points for peace and recovery. 7. Evidence-Driven and Context-Responsive Programming: Participants called for stronger investment in research, data, and local knowledge to inform youth empowerment and YPS programming. 8. Enhanced Coordination and Shared Responsibility: The panel reinforced that youth empowerment and YPS are cross-cutting responsibilities, requiring coordinated action across governments, regional bodies, UN entities, civil society, and the private sector. Youth-responsive institutions—not only youth-focused ones—are key to lasting impact. 9. Strengthened Knowledge Sharing and Learning Platforms: The need to document, consolidate, and disseminate lessons from initiatives such as AYAPS and national youth programmes was highlighted. Learning products and peer-exchange platforms were identified as tools to scale good practices across regions and levels. #Youth4Peace #Youth4PeaceAfrica