Nairobi, 9 December 2025 – Five outstanding youth-led and youth-focused organizations from the Great Lakes region were recognized for their exceptional contributions to peacebuilding during a ceremony held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 9 December 2025. The event marked the 10th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS).
The Great Lakes “Youth in Action” Award, launched by the Office of the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region (OSESG-GL) in partnership with UNFPA, UNDP, and UNICEF, celebrates youth organizations driving transformative change in their communities. Beyond recognition, the award provides financial grants to help winners scale up their initiatives and amplify their impact. This initiative forms part of the Youth Flagship Programme under the United Nations Great Lakes Strategy, which seeks to empower young leaders and organizations to engage meaningfully in peacebuilding at social, economic, and political levels.
The inaugural award attracted 169 submissions from across the region, and specifically from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. After a rigorous review process, five finalists were selected and honored during the ceremony held on the margins of the YPS Stocktaking Conference (8–10 December 2025).
The conference, themed “Ten Years of UNSCR 2250: Reflections and Renewed Commitments for Africa,” brought together key stakeholders to reflect on progress and chart a roadmap for the next decade. Organized in partnership with COMESA and the African Union, the event featured contributions from AU-EU Youth Voices Lab, ICGLR, GIZ, Interpeace, Search for Common Ground, UNDP, UNFPA, and the Institute for Security Studies.
The UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Huang Xia, presented the awards to the following organizations:
- Grand Prize – US$25,000: JAMAA Grand Lacs (DRC)
For their impactful work reintegrating conflict-affected youth, including former child soldiers and ex-combatants, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose. - First Runner-Up – US$15,000: Wote Margin / No Taka Hub (Tanzania)
A pioneering initiative leveraging geospatial technologies and data-driven approaches to prevent conflict, strengthen social cohesion, and build climate resilience among vulnerable communities. - Second Runner-Up – US$10,000: RETFARMER GL (Burundi)
A transformative cross-border program empowering smallholder farmers with tools, training, and networks to promote peace, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. - Third Runner-Up – US$2,500 each: Rural Smiles Foundation (Uganda) and Waza and Act (DRC)
Both recognized for advancing youth participation, social cohesion, and community-led peacebuilding.
These five trailblazing organizations embody the spirit of UNSCR 2250 — young people leading innovative peace initiatives across the Great Lakes region. Their work reflects geographical diversity, gender balance, and inclusion of marginalized youth, while intersecting with critical sectors such as health, technology, agriculture, and climate resilience.
With the support of these grants, their impact is set to expand, reaching more communities and strengthening peacebuilding efforts across the region.
