Middle Eastern Peace: The Role of Women and Youth in Aid and Conflict Resolution

Middle Eastern Peace: The Role of Women and Youth in Aid and Conflict Resolution

In a recent meeting, the focus was on finding ways to link the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda with those focused on women and peace. The significance of this connection is underscored by the negative effects of excluding young people and women from peace processes in the Middle East.

Excluding these groups can fuel extremism and violence, as seen in Gaza where the absence of young people allows extremist groups like Hamas to recruit from a disenfranchised demographic. Without viable political alternatives, younger generations are drawn towards radical forces that destabilize the region further[1].

Similarly, women and youth exclusion leads to peace processes that lack legitimacy and fail to address the needs of the broader population, weakening prospects of sustainable political reform. This is evident in Egypt and broader Arab states, where political reforms have stagnated amid skepticism about democratic processes partly because inclusive approaches have been lacking[3].

Moreover, exclusion often results in peace agreements that rely heavily on military solutions, which fail to achieve lasting peace or address root causes, thereby eroding existing agreements and fueling resentment and hatred[1].

On the other hand, inclusion of women and young people brings diverse perspectives and priorities to peace talks, making agreements more inclusive and representative of society, which increases the legitimacy and sustainability of peace outcomes. This broadening of political legitimacy helps address root causes, improve conflict resolution and reconciliation, and reduce the appeal of extremism[1].

Aid-funded WPS and YPS programs offer promise to support civil societies in inclusive peace processes. For instance, the international community's advocacy for women's participation in peace talks helped ensure the development of a dedicated commission in Colombia's 2012-2016 peace process[2].

In many conflicts in the Middle East, the voices of women and young people have diminished as negotiations continue to falter, further undermining peace prospects. However, initiatives such as YPS Coalitions in Jordan and Iraq offer hope for enhancing inclusion and security outcomes in the region[4].

It is crucial that the remaining 17% of aid spending focuses on supporting civil society in the Arab region with a specific focus on women and young people. Research indicates that every dollar spent on children can generate a total "value" of $10[5].

A peace strategy for MENA that includes the perspectives of women and young people is known to expand the likelihood of peace agreements lasting by at least 35%[6]. However, international donors have remained reticent to support women's associations and youth organizations[7].

Conditioning support for peace processes based on inclusive participation can offer an influential pathway for ensuring inclusion is a political priority. The meeting in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2025, for the WPS (Women, Peace, and Security) Focal Points Network, underscored this urgency[8].

Despite stated commitments, the US, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries have begun to pull back on investments in the agenda either directly or indirectly through foreign aid cuts[9]. This is concerning, as WPS programs led by the US Department of Defense have helped the US gain strategic wins to build community resilience and counter violent extremism through women's mentorship programs[10].

The meeting in Tokyo also focused on how national governments can step up commitments to include women and their perspectives across the security sector. However, the US had just frozen many of its international engagements abroad and did not send representatives to the WPS meetings[11].

There are not equivalent metrics to track how global aid reaches young people, making it more difficult to measure on a global and regional level. Despite this challenge, representatives present at these meetings, including delegations from the Middle East, expressed their sense of urgency about the effort to support women and young people in conflict[8].

USAID's past work on youth and women's entrepreneurship in MENA helped support conditions for peace through empowerment[12]. As we move forward, it is essential to continue advocating for the meaningful inclusion of women and young people in peace processes to break the cycle of violence and build sustainable peace in the region.

1. The lack of integration of women and youth in peace processes, as seen in Gaza, can contribute to the rise of extremism and violence.
2. Including women and youth in peace talks broadens perspectives and priorities, leading to more legitimate and sustainable peace outcomes.
3. Aid-funded Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) programs can support civil societies in inclusive peace processes.
4. Research indicates that the inclusion of women and young people in peace strategies can increase the likelihood of peace agreements lasting by at least 35%.
5. The international community's advocacy for women's participation in peace talks helped ensure the development of a dedicated commission in Colombia's peace process.
6. In many Middle East conflicts, the voices of women and young people have become diminished during negotiations, further undermining peace prospects.
7. Initiatives such as YPS Coalitions in Jordan and Iraq offer hope for enhancing inclusion and security outcomes in the region.
8. It is crucial for the remaining 17% of aid spending to focus on supporting civil society, particularly women and young people, in the Arab region.
9. Every dollar spent on children is estimated to generate a total "value" of $10.
10. A peace strategy for MENA that includes the perspectives of women and young people is known to expand the chances of peace agreements lasting.
11. International donors have been reluctant to support women's associations and youth organizations.
12. Conditioning support for peace processes based on inclusive participation can offer a critical pathway for ensuring inclusion is a political priority.13.The meeting in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2025, emphasized the urgency of inclusion as a political priority.
13. Despite stated commitments, several countries have begun to pull back on investments in the WPS agenda.
14. WPS programs led by the US Department of Defense have helped build community resilience and counter violent extremism.
15. The US had frozen many of its international engagements abroad and did not send representatives to WPS meetings.
16. Measuring how global aid reaches young people is challenging, making it difficult to track on a global and regional level.
17. Representatives at these meetings, including delegations from the Middle East, expressed a sense of urgency about the effort to support women and young people in conflict.
18. USAID's past work on youth and women's entrepreneurship in MENA has helped support conditions for peace through empowerment.
19. The Middle East region requires continued advocacy for the meaningful inclusion of women and young people in peace processes.
20. The absence of young people in peace processes allows extremist groups like Hamas to recruit from disenfranchised demographics.
21. Without inclusive approaches, political reforms in the Arab states have stagnated, weakening prospects of sustainable political reform.
22. Peace processes that lack legitimacy and fail to address the needs of the broader population can undermine prospects for sustainable political reform.
23. Military solutions to conflicts often fail to achieve lasting peace or address root causes, eroding existing agreements and fueling resentment and hatred.
24. Including women and young people in peace talks helps address root causes, improve conflict resolution and reconciliation, and reduce the appeal of extremism.
25. The WPS Focal Points Network meeting in Tokyo highlighted the need for national governments to step up commitments to include women and their perspectives across the security sector.
26. Entrepreneurship programs can help support conditions for peace through youth and women's empowerment.
27. The WPS agenda is essential for building community resilience and countering violent extremism.
28. Excluding women and young people from peace processes can fuel more conflict and violence.
29. Integration of women and young people in peace talks can help achieve more inclusive and representative outcomes.
30. Approaches that prioritize inclusion can help reduce the appeal of extremism and improve conflict resolution.
31. Supporting civil society, especially women and young people, can offer a more effective approach to conflict resolution.
32. MENA peace strategies that prioritize the inclusion of women and young people can help break the cycle of violence and build sustainable peace.
33. Advocating for the inclusion of women and young people in peace processes is crucial for the prospects of sustainable peace in the Middle East and beyond.

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