Young women peacebuilders participating in the YWPI pilot in Tbilisi, Georgia. Courtesy of UN Women, UNFPA, UNAOC, UNICEF
Young Women Peacebuilders Initiative – empowering young women to lead lasting change
We spotlight the (YWPI), a joint programme led by UN Women, UN Population Fund, UN Children’s Fund and UN Alliance of Civilization. After receiving more than 4,500 applications to its first 20-person pilot, YWPI is expanding partnerships so that more young women can access the tools and networks they need to lead lasting change.
We asked them five quick questions to learn about their vision and impact!
1. What is your main area of work with youth?
The Young Women Peacebuilders Initiative builds a leadership pipeline that turns the passion and commitment of young women into practical capacity for inclusive and sustainable peace. The programme combines training and mentorship with access to a global peer network – connecting participants directly to national, regional and global decision-making spaces.
2. Why are young people key to building lasting peace?
When conflict divides their communities, young women often step forward first. They mediate, rebuild trust and design solutions that reach those most at risk of exclusion. Half the global population is under 30, so investing in young women is investing in a generation determined to shape what peace looks like.
“When conflict divides their communities, young women often step forward first.”
Young Women Peacebuilders Initiative
3. Name one way your organization empowers young people to become agents of peace.
This interagency partnership provides advocacy training, mentorship and a platform for exchange for young peacebuilders. By leveraging each agency’s expertise and networks, it strengthens a growing global community of young women leaders, equipping them as agents of peace – with the recognition, capacities and support needed to achieve real, tangible impacts.
4. What’s the one key thing that young people are doing today that gives you hope for peace?
In a time of deepening conflict, polarization and climate insecurity, young women peacebuilders bring creativity. They build trust across divides, connect movements and innovate where systems have stalled.
Graduates like Lamira Ruslanova who facilitates community healing dialogues in Kyrgyzstan, and Lynda Nkechi Emmanuel who trains local mediators in Nigeria, their leadership shows that peace is more durable when shaped by the voices and experiences of young women rooted in their communities.
“Young women peacebuilders are not waiting to be invited in. They are already leading.”
Young Women Peacebuilders Initiative
5. If you could bust one myth about youth, what would it be?
Myth: Young women are waiting to be invited in.
Fact: They are already leading, often with limited support and at great personal risk. In consultations with UN Women, young women peacebuilders knew and reaffirmed their priorities: flexible and long-term funding, safety, digital protection, recognition and meaningful – not tokenistic – participation.
YWPI is building the next generation of women peacebuilders and calls on partners to help turn their vision into lasting impact. Member States and partners interested in contributing to these efforts are invited to contact youngpeacebuilders@unwomen.org.