FBA’s work on youth, peace and security is delivering results

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 establishes that the participation of young people is crucial to successful and sustainable peacebuilding efforts.

In 2021, FBA therefore developed, in collaboration with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), a training programme providing knowledge and tools on how to promote the meaningful participation of young people in peace and security work. The programme, titled Realizing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, is delivered online and targets professionals working within organisations such as the UN, the EU and other international peacebuilding organisations, as well as young peacebuilders themselves.

By early 2026, more than 312 people had participated in the programme, and more than 10,000 people had taken the shorter free courses based on the programme. These courses are available in several languages and can be completed at participants’ own pace under the title YPS Primer.

Anton Ingstedt, Desk Officer focusing on youth, peace and security at FBA, explains that the programme and courses have been integrated into the operations of several peacebuilding actors, for example in the Middle East and North Africa, in Latin America, in French-speaking parts of Africa, and most recently within the UN’s work in Georgia.

“Despite ten years of advancing youth, peace and security outcomes, there is still a lack of training materials in languages other than English. The high participation figures demonstrate both a strong interest and a significant need for deeper expertise in this area. They also reflect recognition of young people’s fundamental right to participate in decisions that affect them, and of the fact that youth participation is key to achieving sustainable results.”

In 2025, an external strategic review of FBA’s work on youth, peace and security was conducted. The focus was on identifying the results the course has produced in terms of increased influence for young people in FBA’s priority contexts, such as Ukraine, the Middle East and North Africa.

The evaluation demonstrates positive effects — not only for individual course participants, but also at the institutional level to help enable effects at country levels:

Among other things, the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine has incorporated youth perspectives into the mission’s conflict analyses through recurring dialogue with young people from civil society.

In the Middle East and North Africa, UN advisers have used tools taught in the course to develop a regional strategy for youth, peace and security, resulting in concrete changes to UN working methods at both regional and national levels.

And in Colombia, UNDP has strengthened coordination between the UN and young people from civil society, resulting in youth voices and priorities being more clearly reflected in the UN’s work in the country.

“These are just a few examples of how FBA’s tools and guidance have helped ensure that meaningful youth participation is embedded in processes, as well as increased awareness that youth participation cannot be treated as a side issue. It is also encouraging that the review describes FBA as a global reference point in the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 and subsequent resolutions on youth, peace and security,” Anton Ingstedt concludes.

About the review

During 2025, FBA conducted a review of the effects of the agency’s capacity-strengthening efforts within youth, peace and security, with a particular focus on the results of the course Realizing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.

The purpose of the review was to contribute to an understanding of the programme and FBA’s complementary initiatives relevance among actors working on youth, peace and security in light of evolving needs since the creation of the programme, and to analyse the extent to which the these have contributed to achieving the objectives of Sweden's strategy for Peace, Security and Stabilisation (FSS).

The positive findings of the review confirm FBA’s role as a globally leading actor within youth, peace and security, with a unique capacity to support actors in achieving results at country level. The course has also contributed to increasing FBA’s influence within international institutions. As a result, it has strengthened Sweden’s influence in multilateral forums and policy processes, of relevance for young peoples meaningful participation in peace processes and peace efforts.

The review was conducted by Exterion LLC. Download the review here: Strategic Review of FBA’s Capacity Development Support through the Realizing the YPS Agenda Online Course