Youth Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (YELI) Burundi, a youth-led non-profit organization, completed an Independent Talking Across Generation on Education (iTAGe) event on youth agency and the Promotion of Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda in Burundi from January to August 2023. Responding to UN Security Council 2250 and 2419, as well as the African Youth Charter, the event successfully provided a safe space for youth to voice out their concerns and amplify them into policy recommendations, together with the Burundian National Youth Council (CNJB).

{Live-event picture of the whole youth speakers and decision makers}

Decision makers and young speakers: 

Youth speakers.

Caption: The youth representatives and senior decision makers during the live event.

The event consisted of two phases: online discussions on YELI’s social media platforms - Facebook and Twitter, followed by a live dialogue between youth and senior decision-makers. Four weeks of online conversations done in English and French focused on the challenges faced by young people working on the promotion of peace and security, the key areas where young people are keen to see developed in the national strategy on YPS and its action plan of implementation, and young people’s contributions to advance the implementation of YPS agenda in Burundi were highlighted. Some responses from Burundian youth received online were:

Quote : “There is a need to create space for intergenerational dialogue that will allow young people and the elders to discuss issues that affect their lives and the community in general…” Said Frank Ngenzebuhoro. 

Quote: “As a youth, my role and contributions to advance the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda in Burundi is that I engage myself with my fellow young people to raise awareness on the YPS agenda and mobilize others to join groups and associations.” Said Isaac Nininahazwe. 

In addition, an online survey was disseminated in parallel with the social media dialogue above. It received 100+ responses. 

Finally, five youths were selected to represent Burundian youth in the live dialogue event: 

    1. Diop Baudouin Ndayisaba, the Commissioner at the National Youth Council of Burundi (CNJB)

    2. Igiraneza Arlene, a young feminist, 

    3. Dr. Ingabire Thierry, the President of the National Youth Council of Burundi (CNJB)

    4. Irankunda Ferdinand, Member of Parliament at the East African Youth Parliament

    5. Ngenzebuhoro Frank, a young peacebuilder and peace activist

{One or two quotes from youth}

Quote: “it is very essential for young people to exploit the available opportunities such as for youth investment (BIJE), PAEEJ, FIGA among others to grasp all opportunities that lead young people to success”said Dr. Ingabire Thierry. 

Two senior decision-makers joined them: 

    1. Jean De Dieu Mutabazi, President of the National Observatory for the Prevention and Eradication of Genocide, War Crimes and Other Crimes Against Humanity

    2. Nkurunziza Jean Kevin, the Representative and Advisor at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture.

{Quote from decision makers}

    • Quote: “As young people, it is not a deal to focus on the government to provide you a job, go and do something in entrepreneurship.” said Jean De Dieu Mutabazi, 

    • Quote : “the inclusion of young people in the reflection of peace and security issues is a necessity for a better future for an inclusive Burundi” said Kevin Nkurunziza, the Representative and Advisor at the Youth Ministry. 

Under the facilitation of two young moderators - Isaac Nininahazwe, the Africa Youth Leadership Forum country coordinator and Raphael Nkurunziza, a young peace builder and youth trainer of YELI, some recommendations were formulated as follows:

To the government of Burundi: 

    • Accelerate the process of the development of the national strategy on youth, peace and security agenda and its action plan to allow different stakeholders to align with it;

    • Decentralize the Investment Bank for Youth (BIJE) so young people from across the country can easily get access to it. 

    • Capacitate the youth centres across the country to serve as resources for young people’s knowledge. 

To youth-led organizations and cooperatives: 

    • Exploit the available opportunities such as BIJE, Youth Economic Empowerment and Employment Program (PAEEJ), Impulse, Guarantee and Support Fund (FIGA), among others.

    • Explore and implement youth entrepreneurship. 

Moreover, the dialogue suggests that the Ministry in charge of youth should provide space for young people to explore online opportunities for a better partnership with other stakeholders operating at different levels and social enterprises to mobilize young people to use information and communication technology. The event also underlines the importance of intergenerational dialogue and the need to multiply it as an effort opening space for young people to discuss with decision-makers.

This recommendation document has been conveyed to the policymakers. It is expected to contribute to the national strategy on Youth, Peace and Security that is currently being developed in Burundi. 

The detailed policy recommendations and the data gathered can be accessed here, or contact YELI Burundi at: yeliburundi@gmail.com.  

If you would like to organize an iTAGᵉ in your university/organization/ community, then don't hesitate to get in touch with youth.mgiep@unesco.org.