Consultancy for Paper on Advancing Implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda in Practice At Christian Aid Ireland

Introduction

Christian Aid Ireland is an international humanitarian, development and peacebuilding agency working in 29 countries across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. As a multi- mandate organisation, Christian Aid combines lifesaving relief assistance to those most in need in crises, with building the long-term resilience of vulnerable communities to cope with future threats and advocating with those in power to tackle the causes and consequences of crises. Our work explicitly aims at challenging power imbalances within societies by increasing the power of poor and marginalised women and men, strengthening their voice, and helping them to engage with those in positions of authority to participate in their own governance. We understand that people in poverty often face several, intersecting, inequalities based on their identities. Our Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention strategy aims to contribute to peacebuilding efforts, ensuring access to justice and accountability, and protecting those most at risk of violence and supporting inclusive peacebuilding.

Background and Context

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, has led to significant progress in advocating for the inclusion of women in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and post-conflict recovery. Over the years, the WPS agenda has gained traction in both global and national policy frameworks, supported by numerous subsequent UNSCRs, such as 1820, 1888, and 2242, among others. Despite some ongoing challenges in full implementation, the WPS agenda has achieved substantial global recognition and integration into national security and peacebuilding strategies.

While the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Agenda, launched by UNSCR 2250 in 2015, has achieved a great deal, it is much less embedded in the international system and policies of states. The YPS agenda highlights the critical role of young people—particularly in conflict-affected and fragile settings—by promoting their participation in peace processes, addressing youth-driven violence, and supporting their empowerment. However, despite its endorsement by the UN Security Council and the growing recognition of youth as key peacebuilders, in the implementation of the YPS agenda some commentators and civil society organisations have observed, it has been less prioritized, with fewer notable changes in policy and practice.

This research aims to explore how states have implemented the YPS agenda, focusing on the prioritization and progress of these frameworks, advances in progress, and opportunities for the future. The paper will explore how far the YPS agenda has been integrated into national, regional, and global peace and security policies, assessing the challenges faced and the gaps in implementation. The study will also explore the reasons for this, and reflect the testimony of youth-led civil society organisations.

The overall objective of this consultancy is to produce a comprehensive research paper that:

1. Analyses the current status of implementation of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda, focusing on how states have operationalized the agenda in their national policies and frameworks.

2. Assessing why it has received less attention and fewer concrete changes in comparison to other international agenda, to support the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind, to be better integrated into decision making and peacebuilding processes.

3. Examine policy and practice gaps surrounding the YPS agenda, identifying key challenges in prioritizing youth within peace and security policies and frameworks.

4. Provides policy recommendations for advancing the implementation of the YPS agenda, drawing from lessons learned from other international protocols.

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Literature and Document Review: Review relevant resolutions, implementation reports, and action plans from multilateral institutions, states, and civil society. Analyze global, regional, and national progress on other international agenda for inclusive peace processes ie(WPS agenda), . potential transferable learning from implementation of 1325, learning from the challenges and progress including the importance of subsequent WPS resolutions to strengthen work around participation. Examine policy papers, advocacy documents, identifying key achievements and challenges. Data Collection: Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, crucially youth-led civil society organizations, to gather insights on the practical implementation of the YPS agenda to understand the political will, institutional mechanisms, and challenges they face. Collect testimony from youth-led organizations working in conflict-affected areas to understand their experiences, the level of engagement they have had with governments and leadership structures, and the barriers to their meaningful inclusion in peace processes. Explore a benchmarking framework and comparative analysis to assess the progress made by states in implementing the YPS agenda. This should include key indicators such as youth participation in peace processes, government commitments to youth empowerment and leadership, and financial allocations for youth-focused peacebuilding initiatives. Identify specific gaps in the integration of the YPS agenda at the local, national and international levels, including the social, political, institutional, and funding barriers that hinder its implementation. Assess disparities in the prioritization of youth rights in peace and security frameworks, with a particular focus on youth components in national and regional peace policies to unpack the root causes of exclusion despite clear mandates under UNSCR 2250. Policy Recommendations: Provide recommendations for increasing the priority given to the YPS agenda at national, regional, and international levels. This should include actions for civil society, local, national and regional institutions, and donors to enhance youth participation in peace processes. Reflect actionable strategies to integrate youth-focused provisions into their national action plans on peace and security, inspired by best practices from implementation of the YPS and WPS agendas.

Deliverables to include:

• Inception Report, outlining the methodology, data collection plan, and timeline for the research, including a draft of interview guides or survey questions
• A draft of the research paper, including a summary of findings, analysis, and preliminary recommendations should be provided for feedback, consultation, with inputs responded to and actioned.
• Comprehensive research paper (20-30 pages) synthesizing the evidence, findings and testimony of youth, with recommendations for improving the implementation of the YPS agenda in practice A report outlining the comparative analysis in real world implementation of the WPS and YPS agendas, including identified gaps and challenges in the prioritization of youth in peacebuilding.
• Present the findings to key stakeholders and other relevant actors involved in YPS implementation, highlighting actionable recommendations that can inform policy and practice.

Consultant Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should meet the following minimum qualifications and experience:

A graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in international relations, peace and conflict studies, political science, gender studies, or a related field.

A minimum of 7 years of experience in research related to peace and security, with a focus on youth and women’s issues.

Excellent understanding of the WPS and YPS agendas, their global frameworks, and how they have been implemented in practice

Proven experience in conducting qualitative research and policy analysis, including policy analysis and report writing for academic, policy, and civil society, government audiences.

Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly government representatives, international organizations, and youth-led civil society groups.

Duration:

The consultancy will last for 8 weeks, starting from early February 2025

Interested consultants should submit the following by Wednesday, 29 January 2025:

Proposal: Including a brief methodology, work plan, and timeline for completing the deliverables.

CV: Demonstrating qualifications and past relevant work.

Budget: Detailing the consultant’s daily or project-based rate and any other relevant expenses.