Building Peace from the Ground Up: A New Approach to Preventing Extremism in East Africa
East Africa stands at a crossroads. With a population of over 445 million people, the region grapples with unemployment, inequality, and conflict. Yet, within these challenges lies an untapped potential: its youth. Young people, who make up a significant portion of the population, could be the region’s greatest asset for peace. However, economic deprivation, political instability, and social marginalization have left communities in Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan vulnerable to violent extremism. Each year, thousands of disillusioned youth, frustrated by limited opportunities, risk being drawn into cycles of violence.
But what if empowering these communities could transform this threat into a force for sustainable peace?
In 2024, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) launched an ambitious $18 million initiative: Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism in East Africa (2024–2027). This programme seeks to address the root causes of violent extremism by strengthening community resilience, fostering social cohesion, and creating opportunities for vulnerable populations, particularly youth and women.
The Challenge: A Perfect Storm of Grievances
East Africa’s struggles with violent extremism are deeply rooted in a complex interplay of factors. Economic deprivation, lack of access to education and employment, and the disproportionate impact of violence on women and youth have created fertile ground for extremist groups to exploit. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, with droughts and floods displacing communities, straining resources, and fueling competition.
UNDP’s evidence-based studies, including the Journey to Extremism in Africa: Pathways to Recruitment and Disengagement, highlight the need for a development-focused approach to tackle these drivers. The new programme builds on lessons learned from past interventions, aiming to address the root causes of violent extremism by enhancing distributive justice, rule of law, social cohesion, economic inclusion, and good governance.
The Response: A Multifaceted Approach
The Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism in East Africa programme takes a comprehensive, community-centered approach to countering violent extremism. It focuses on five key outcomes:
1. Strengthening Socio-Economic Resilience: The programme will provide entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and life skills to 4,200 youth, 80% of whom are under 30. By equipping young people with livelihoods and leadership skills, the initiative aims to reduce their vulnerability to extremist recruitment.
2. Enhancing Early Warning Systems: Community-led early warning and response mechanisms will be established in 57 locations across Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. These systems will leverage data and technology to detect and respond to threats of violent extremism, integrating climate security considerations to address the compounding effects of environmental shocks.
3. Strengthening Religious Institutions: Recognizing the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in shaping community narratives, the programme will empower 375 women leaders within FBOs to promote peacebuilding and counter harmful ideologies.
4. Supporting Reintegration: Community-Based Reintegration (CBR) initiatives will provide psychosocial support and trauma healing to 2,400 individuals, including former extremists. In Somalia, localized dialogues and shared economic projects, such as cooperative farming, aim to bridge clan divisions and foster reconciliation.
5. Informing Policies and Strategies: The programme will influence 41 national policies by 2027, drawing on regional analysis and input from 538 stakeholders. It will also establish a regional platform for South-South learning, enhancing cross-border collaboration.
Why Focus on Women and Youth?
Women and youth are disproportionately affected by conflict but remain underrepresented in peace processes. The programme prioritizes their inclusion, recognizing their potential as agents of change. By equipping young people with livelihoods and leadership skills, and amplifying the voices of women in faith-based organizations, the initiative aims to address the identity crises, economic disparities, and political tensions that fuel extremism.
“UNDP Kenya appreciates that the programme provides an opportunity for Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan to share experiences in preventing violent conflict and violent extremism through strengthening community social cohesion structures, including working with youth and women groups,” says Madelena Monoja, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.
The Road Ahead
While the programme’s three-year timeline is ambitious, challenges such as climate shocks, electoral tensions, and fluctuating donor priorities could disrupt progress. However, partnerships with local governments, faith-based organizations, and communities offer hope.
“Perpetrators of violent extremism and conflict take advantage of long-standing social differences in the communities to undermine the social contract between government and citizens,” notes Ms. Songi Han, KOICA Acting Country Director in Kenya. “KOICA is eager to contribute towards positive changes for communities in Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan through this project.”
By 2027, the programme aims to reduce grievances in target communities, enhance access to justice and social services, and strengthen cross-border collaboration. Its success will be measured not only in numbers but in the tangible impact on the lives of those most vulnerable to violent extremism.
A Vision for Sustainable Peace
The Peacebuilding and Preventing Violent Extremism in East Africa initiative represents a bold step towards addressing the root causes of violent extremism in the region. By empowering communities, fostering dialogue, and creating opportunities for youth and women, the programme seeks to transform the “youth bulge” into a peacebuilding engine.
As East Africa navigates its poly-crises, this initiative offers a beacon of hope — a reminder that resilience, collaboration, and inclusive development can pave the way for a more peaceful and prosperous future.
About the author
Muviazalwa Ibrahim is a Project Communications Associate at UNDP Kenya
