ACCORD Takes Part in 5th Continental Dialogue on Youth and Women, Peace and Security in Africa

The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) has joined the 5th Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Forum, held in Bujumbura, Burundi, as part of efforts to strengthen intergenerational and gender-inclusive approaches to peacebuilding on the continent.

The dialogue, hosted under the patronage of Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, brought together political leaders, women mediators, youth representatives, rights defenders and peacebuilding professionals under the theme “From Promise to Practice: Intergenerational Voices on Peace Negotiations and Access to Justice for All Women and Girls”. The event coincided with the 2026 International Youth Day celebrations and marked the 20th anniversary of the African Youth Charter.

A central focus of the meeting was translating continental commitments into concrete influence, protection and leadership opportunities for women and young people. Burundi’s First Lady, Angeline Ndayishimiye, described African women as essential contributors to conflict prevention, community reconciliation, survivor support and the rebuilding of trust after violence.

Participants shared practical ideas for turning public pledges into real participation in peace processes, including by strengthening conflict prevention and community-based peacebuilding, improving access to justice for women and girls, and building stronger connections between WPS and YPS initiatives at national, regional and continental levels.

ACCORD has long supported the institutionalisation of the YPS and WPS agendas in Africa, working with the African Union, regional economic communities and national stakeholders on mediation, training and policy development. The centre has accompanied the evolution of networks such as the Gertrude Shope Network of African Women Mediators from its early years, bringing experience from women building peace across the continent.

At the dialogue, ACCORD contributed to discussions on operationalising frameworks that enable meaningful participation of women and youth in conflict prevention, management and resolution, and on aligning continental instruments with grassroots realities. The centre also used the platform to highlight the need for sustained investment in capacity-building, mentorship and psychosocial support for those engaged in peace processes.

The Bujumbura dialogue forms part of a broader wave of YPS and WPS engagements in 2026. In July, the AU, with ACCORD and partners including ISS and NeTT4Peace, convened a regional coordination meeting in Gaborone to review implementation of the AU’s Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security and prepare for a mid-term assessment starting in September.

In August, ACCORD supported the AU’s Peace Support Operations Division in Accra on strengthening policy and operational frameworks for African peace support operations, including mental health and psychosocial support, underscoring the link between inclusive peace processes and effective field operations.

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