Empowering the Next Generation: Youth Advisory Council established in Jowhar to Lead Peace and Development

JOWHAR, HIRSHABELLE — In a landmark move for regional stability and youth inclusion, Shaqodoon Organization, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) of Hirshabelle, has successfully established the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) in Jowhar. This initiative is a core component of the YOU-ACT Project, a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and IOM - UN Migration, with generous funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

A New Era of Youth Leadership

The establishment of the YAC is designed to address historical youth exclusion and resource-based tensions in the Jowhar District. By creating a formal 13-member leadership structure, the project provides a platform for young women and men to actively participate in peacebuilding, governance, and sustainable natural resource management.

For the first time in Jowhar, youth participation has been institutionalized within inclusive governance structures. This shift moves conflict resolution away from ad-hoc responses toward structured, community-owned processes.

Building Capacity for Lasting Peace

To ensure the YAC is equipped to handle the complexities of local governance, Shaqodoon conducted a specialized Training of Trainers (ToT) focusing on:

• Conflict Resolution and Mediation: Empowering youth to lead dialogue sessions and resolve disputes independently.

• Communication Skills: Strengthening the ability of young leaders to coordinate with elders, local authorities, and community-based organizations (CBOs).

These efforts have already reached over 2,000 community members, who were sensitized on conflict transformation and inclusive land governance.

Strengthening Community-Driven Development

Beyond peacebuilding, Shaqodoon and the MoYS Hirshabelle conducted a critical training titled “Empowering Youth to Plan, Implement, and Monitor Community-Driven Projects”. This training was specifically designed to:

• Enhance Project Management: Building skills in planning and monitoring to ensure project sustainability.

• Foster Leadership: Enabling the YAC to take a central role in local decision-making and development initiatives.

• Promote Ownership: Encouraging youth to lead community-driven projects that address local needs and reduce reliance on external interventions.

Looking Ahead

The YOU-ACT project continues to bridge the gap between generations, improving trust between youth and traditional elders. By formally linking youth structures to municipal governance, Shaqodoon and its partners are ensuring that the young people of Jowhar are not just spectators, but the primary architects of a peaceful and resilient Hirshabelle.