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As part of its commitment to supporting West African states in developing their National Action Plans on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS), the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), represented by Ms Gloria Ampomah, a member of WANEP’s Youth, Peace and Security Programme, and Mr Nathanael Tete, a member of Youth4Peace Senegal, had the honour of providing technical support to three regional consultations in Senegal, funded by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
As in The Gambia, Liberia and Benin, WANEP played a strategic role in the Senegal consultations, held from 20 to 26 September 2025 in Matam (20-21), Tambacounda (23-24) and Kédougou (25-26).
A total of 105 young people, including students, civil society representatives, youth leaders, persons with disabilities, and both urban and rural youth, participated in the consultations. Each regional meeting also brought together about 15 key actors, including government officials, representatives of ECOWAS, WANEP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Association pour la Promotion du Leadership des Jeunes Femme et Filles (APEL-JFF) and members of the Senegal NAP-YPS Taskforce.
Conducted in French, Wolof and Pular, the consultations provided a platform for young people to share their needs and challenges, such as unemployment, limited access to funding for youth-led initiatives, irregular migration, structural violence, under-representation in decision-making processes, cross-border insecurity, and the effects of climate change. Participants also provided key recommendations for integration into the NAP. In addition, their capacity was strengthened on UNSCR 2250, its related normative frameworks, and its domestication in Senegal.
Discussions focused on five key pillars: i) Governance, Peace and Security; ii) Employment, Economy and Technological Innovation; iii) Education, Basic Social Services and Inclusion; iv) Environment, Climate Change and Energy; and v) Communication, Engagement and Partnerships.
Each regional consultation culminated in a declaration highlighting the role of young people as key actors of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda in Senegal, while outlining their challenges, needs, and recommendations to all stakeholders.
The outcomes of these consultations will feed into the development of the NAP-YPS, led by the Senegal NAP-YPS Taskforce. A team of three experts, including the African Youth Ambassador for Peace (West Africa), Ms Simone Diouf, has been tasked with drafting the NAP.
WANEP expresses its gratitude to ECOWAS for funding these regional consultations and to the Government of Senegal, the NAP-YPS Taskforce, the team of consultants, participants, development partners and all stakeholders for their collective effort in promoting peace, security and youth empowerment. WANEP remains committed to supporting Senegal and other Member States in advancing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
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