Youth inclusion in peace processes: a case study from the Central African Republic

In 2019, the Central African Republic (CAR) took a major step toward ending its long-running conflict with the signing of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (APPR-RCA) between the Government and 14 armed groups. But for a country where 72 per cent of the population is under the age of 35, and where youth played a critical role in both the conflict and the push for peace, the absence of young people at the negotiating table was striking.

Despite being excluded from the Khartoum talks, a follow-on national reconciliation campaign included in the agreement opened a window for youth participation. With support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), a project in CAR was launched to take advantage of this opportunity and advance broader commitments by the Government to address youth exclusion, one of the structural causes of the country's instability. 

But inclusion wasn’t just a matter of access. As one staff member candidly explained, “The youth were not adequately prepared for engagement at such a high level.” With a national literacy rate of just over 13 per cent, very few young people had the skills or knowledge needed to participate meaningfully in policy discussions or peace implementation. Without preparation, they risked being tokenized, or worse, manipulated.

To address this challenge, the project focused on building youth capacity instead of immediately placing them in policy dialogues. A total of 750 young people were trained on civic education, conflict prevention, dialogue and peace process literacy. 

The case study revealed that youth inclusion in peace dialogues cannot be reactive or symbolic – it demands deliberate, informed and well-resourced support and training. Creating meaningful space for youth requires time, trust and continued investments. Moreover, the project affirmed that peace processes are only stronger and more sustainable when they reflect the voices of those who will inherit their outcomes.

This case study is taken from the 2025 Peacebuilding Fund Thematic Review on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). Explore the full 2025 YPS Thematic Review to learn how youth are reshaping peace in conflict-affected regions around the world.