Strengthening Youth Voices in Peacebuilding: AU Wise Youth at the Clingendael Academy

Just before Christmas, the Clingendael Academy proudly welcomed the first cohort of the Wise Youth Network for an intensive two-week training programme on negotiation and mediation.

The Wise Youth Network is a subsidiary of the Panel of the Wise under the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) of the African Union. It is dedicated to strengthening the role of African youth in conflict prevention, mediation, and dialogue. It provides a platform for strategic advocacy, capacity building, and networking to advance youth inclusion in peace-processes across Africa. 

Fifteen members of the cohort from across the African continent brought diverse perspectives, energy, and critical thinking to the table. Their engagement sparked constructive debate, fresh insights, and prompted rethinking of patterns in both strategy and behaviour. 

With a highly practical approach, this tailor-made training featured negotiation simulations and interactive exercises that led to confrontations, and occasionally, light-hearted moments. Beyond the core modules on mediation phases, models, and processes, the bilingual programme (French and English) offered additional modules zooming in on essential communication strategies ranging from intercultural and non-violent communication to trust-building. Together, this diverse curriculum aimed to enhance the Wise Youth Network’s capacity for advocacy, deployment, and peacebuilding.

Outside the classroom, participants explored the Netherlands and shared experiences. We concluded the programme with a communal dinner, an informal moment to connect and reflect before wrapping up two weeks of learning and exchange. We are proud to have contributed to participant's newly acquired knowledge and skills that will advance their vital role as advisors to the Panel of the Wise.