Youth Engagement in the Realm of Local Governance: Opportunities for Peace?

An interest in young people has gained significant traction in both policy and academic circles over the past ten years, partly informed by the correlations between ‘youth bulges’ and large numbers of unemployed youth and a country’s instability. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security endorses a view of young people as contributors to peace, and is likely to prompt support for their participation in peacebuilding. While local governance might be an entry point for youth participation, little is documented about the specifics of young people’s participation in local governance in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Based on a review of existing literature, this paper discusses the ways in which youth engage in local governance processes through formal and informal mechanisms, and the politics and power dynamics that shape their engagement.