Project description
Connectors e.V., together with fellow UNOY member organizations PlanImpact, KOMS, and Youth Voice Network, is implementing a regional initiative aimed at building a Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Coalition across Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) and the South Caucasus.
The project responds to the need for stronger regional cooperation, coordinated advocacy, and capacity development among youth-led peacebuilding organizations working at the intersection of the YPS and WPS agendas.
By establishing a regional coalition, the initiative aims to amplify youth voices, strengthen cooperation among peace actors, exchange experiences and good practices, and create a sustainable network for long-term collaboration and impact.
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to establish a functional regional YPS–WPS Coalition that strengthens youth-led peacebuilding efforts and promotes meaningful participation of young people in peace processes.
- Mapping and connecting youth-led organizations and stakeholders working on YPS and WPS in the region;
- Strengthening capacities through peer learning, knowledge exchange, and collaboration;
- Documenting regional achievements, challenges, and gaps related to YPS and WPS to support evidence-based advocacy;
- Establishing sustainable coordination mechanisms for continued regional cooperation.
Target groups or participants
The project brings together youth-led organizations, networks, and young peacebuilders from Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and neighboring regions, including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland, and the Western Balkans.
The initiative particularly encourages participation of young people aged 18–35 and promotes gender balance and inclusion of diverse voices, including displaced youth, ethnic minorities, and young people from conflict-affected communities.
Sustainability or expected impact
The coalition is designed as a long-term collaborative platform based on shared ownership, distributed leadership, and accessible coordination mechanisms.
Through peer learning, networking, and jointly developed knowledge resources, the project aims to strengthen cooperation among young peacebuilders beyond the project period.