Mogadishu, Somalia – Tubsan, Somalia’s National Center for Preventing & Countering Violent Extremism, is proud to announce the commencement of the Youth Engagement and Empowerment Programme (YEEP) Somalia. This innovative initiative, designed to empower youth to prevent and counter violent extremism, marks a significant step forward in our national strategy against terrorism.

In collaboration with UNOCT/UNCCT’s Global Programme on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, as well as with key partners including the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Management Institute for National Development (MIND), YEEP Somalia kicked off with a virtual meeting signifying a new era of youth participation in peacebuilding efforts.

The programme welcomed 26 young leaders, selected through a competitive process, representing a diverse cross-section of Somali society. These individuals are set to embark on an intensive journey through five capacity-building phases, encompassing online training, in-person workshops, peer-to-peer engagement, data analysis training, and policy development. The culmination of their training will be a National Policy Dialogue event, where they will present their policy recommendations on peacebuilding and the prevention and countering of violent extremism to key policymakers.

YEEP Somalia aligns with the Somali national PCVE strategy, particularly its community engagement and youth resilience pillar. During the launch, the Director of Tubsan, H.E. Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, underlined the Centre’s commitment to youth-led initiatives, stating, “We are dedicated to empowering Somali youth, leveraging their insights and energy to strengthen our community’s resilience against extremism.”

This initiative signifies a promising step towards engaging youth in crucial roles against violent extremism, fostering a generation of leaders equipped with the skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to Somalia’s peace and security.