The Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda has gained notable momentum in 2025, marking the 10-year anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 2250 and the adoption of resolution 2807, which emphasizes greater youth participation and leadership in peace processes. In the Arab States, recent regional commitments and ongoing crises have highlighted young people’s critical contributions to peacebuilding, from providing emergency relief in Gaza and documenting humanitarian violations, to mediating local disputes in Sudan. Despite their efforts, initiatives to advance YPS in the region often remain fragmented and siloed, with multiple events and programs operating independently, limiting strategic impact and fostering repeated narratives without sustained outcomes.
A coordinated and collaborative approach is essential to maximize effectiveness, requiring partnerships not only among like-minded actors but also across differing perspectives, reflecting the principle that peace is built with those we do not always agree with. UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) is uniquely positioned to foster such collaboration, leveraging its convening role, trusted relationships, and capacity to bring together UN agencies, civil society, youth organizations, and public authorities to create a unified regional framework. Strategic partnerships should focus on shared objectives, complementing strengths, transparency, and open dialogue, while respecting differences where collaboration may not be feasible.
The current momentum offers a critical window to embed sustainable structures, ensuring that young peacebuilders are supported to drive innovation, cohesion, and long-term impact. By translating political commitments into coordinated actions and durable partnerships, the Arab States can strengthen the YPS agenda, build trust with youth, and create resilient foundations for peace and security, emphasizing that meaningful progress requires acting together now rather than waiting for another decade.
