The RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia, in partnership with United Nations agencies in Serbia (UNFPA and UNDP), organized a two-day capacity-building training for civil society organizations focused on the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agendas. Held on 13–14 December, the training marked the first in a series of joint activities that RYCO Serbia and UN agencies will implement together, aimed at strengthening the localization of the YPS agenda in Serbia.
The training brought together 20 representatives of civil society organizations to enhance their understanding of global YPS and WPS frameworks and explore their relevance within Serbia’s policy context, including links with the Youth Strategy and related public policies.
Throughout the two days, participants engaged in interactive sessions addressing youth-inclusive analysis, early warning mechanisms, and community-based interventions designed to prevent social tensions, counter misinformation and hate speech, and promote intercultural dialogue and reconciliation. Emphasis was placed on youth leadership and the role of civil society organizations in empowering young people to engage in decision-making processes at the local and regional levels.
The training also showcased RYCO’s ongoing work on advancing the YPS agenda at both regional and local levels, highlighting concrete examples of how youth-led peacebuilding initiatives are supported across the Western Balkans. Participants were introduced to RYCO funding opportunities for YPS-focused initiatives, including an open call RYCOgnizing YPS, which aims to support innovative, youth-driven projects that contribute to peace, trust, and social cohesion.
As part of the practical component, participants were introduced to the redesigned version of “Participation Game”, an interactive tool developed by RYCO in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia to actively involve young people in the development of project ideas.
This training represents an important step in deepening cooperation between RYCO and UN agencies in Serbia and lays the groundwork for future joint activities dedicated to empowering young people as key actors in peacebuilding and security processes.
