Griffith Asia Institute’s Dr Helen Berents has been awarded a prestigious research grant by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) to explore the crucial role of intergenerational engagement in peacebuilding. The project, titled Intergenerational Engagement for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, will run from July 2024 to June 2025.
This research team will examine how intergenerational collaboration—between youth, civil society, and government—can contribute to the successful implementation of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. Since its inception by the UN Security Council in 2015, the YPS agenda has recognised the need to involve youth in shaping global peace and security strategies. While intergenerational dialogue has been acknowledged as important, this project is the first to investigate how such engagement is practically applied within the YPS field.
Focusing on key actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Finland, Nigeria, and the Philippines, the project will conduct literature reviews, surveys, and interviews to identify what can be learned from ongoing intergenerational advocacy efforts. The research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how youth and older generations can work together effectively in peacebuilding efforts.
The project seeks to:
- Understand how intergenerational engagement has been practiced in YPS coalitions and National Action Plans (NAPs) on YPS.
- Identify the successes and challenges of intergenerational engagement.
- Determine factors that predict success or failure in establishing meaningful intergenerational partnerships.
- Develop strategies to foster effective intergenerational engagement based on the gathered evidence.
This international research is co-led by Dr Helen Berents, Diplomacy and Governance Hub Lead at the Griffith Asia Institute, alongside colleagues, Yulia Nesterova and Ingrid Valladares. The project is also supported by a Youth Expert Advisory Team comprised of youth advocates who were involved in establishing YPS action plans in their national contexts, ensuring that the voices and experiences of young people are central to the research.
Dr Berents expressed her enthusiasm about the project, stating,
“This research is not just about understanding intergenerational dynamics, but about creating practical pathways for youth and older generations to collaborate in meaningful and impactful ways for peace and security.”
The project will focus on stakeholders from the first four countries to adopt YPS National Action Plans: Finland, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through rigorous analysis, the research team aims to conceptualise intergenerational engagement as a key tool for peacebuilding, with findings that could influence YPS policies globally.
The Intergenerational Engagement for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda project underscores Griffith Asia Institute’s commitment to leading research that addresses real-world challenges in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. By enhancing the understanding of intergenerational cooperation in peacebuilding, the project aims to inspire more inclusive and sustainable solutions to global security issues.
Visit the Intergenerational Engagement in the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda webpage for more information.
