Yesterday 8th of June 2026,the Regional Youth Forum of ICGLR hosted a breakfast meeting for partners at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Nairobi. The event brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society and those from international agencies; to explore avenues of collaboration for the advancement of the youth peace and security agenda.
While welcoming participants, the Regional Coordinator of the Youth Forum Mr. Thomas Mose, opined that the breakfast forms a vital platform for dialogue, strategic planning and partnerships. He reiterated that ICGLR youth forum serves as an official avenue for engagement, where young people can contribute to peace initiatives and strengthen peace and security in the region.
The meeting also served as a platform for introducing the mandate, structure and strategic plan of the Regional youth forum; engage institutions of government, civil society and UN agencies in identifying opportunities for joint programming.
Secreatry for Youth development Dr.Josephine Etenyi presided over the function on behalf of the Principal Secretary, Fikirini Jacobs. In his remarks read out by Secretary Etenyi, the PS lauded the partners for their investment in supporting youth participation in peace building ,governance and regional cooperation.
The PS observed that the United Nations Security Council resolution 2250 is a vital instrument that guides how the global community interprets the role of young people in peace and security. The resolution recognizes the youth as indispensable stakeholders in conflict prevention, peace building and post-conflict recovery.
PS Fikirini affirmed the Kenya government’s commitment at implementing the youth and security agenda. The commitment is evident in the ongoing efforts towards the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Youth Peace and Security, NAPS-YPS; which seeks to institutionalize youth participation in peace building and governance processes.
The forum was asked to focus on three key priority areas which deserve collective attention:
. Strengthen institutional support for youth participation in peace processes
. Increase investment in youth-led initiatives by identifying sustainable opportunities for young people.
. Foster stronger partnerships among governments, regional institutions, development partners, civil society and the private sector.
