LocationsTanzania’s Youth Are Building the Future of Peace, One Conversation at a Time
July 15, 2026
From local conversations to national influence, young people are driving a new movement for peace, inclusion, and sustainable development across Tanzania.
Across Tanzania, a powerful new story is unfolding. In communities from Mbeya and Songwe to Mwanza and Geita, young people are stepping up, not as future leaders, but as active partners in shaping their nation’s present.
With passion and purpose, 118 youth leaders – including 69 young men and 49 young women, are coming together to tackle pressing challenges their generation faces, turning dialogue and determination into lasting peace. This transformation is being driven through Dumisha Amani II project, an initiative implemented by UNDP Tanzania in partnership with the President's Office – Youth Development (PO-YD) and supported by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF).
Lasting peace is built when young people are trusted, equipped, and empowered to lead to change within their own communities.
Turning Conversations into Collective Action
Real change starts with listening. In towns and villages, young people from all walks of life boda-boda riders, entrepreneurs, students, political youth wings, media practitioners, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and youth with disabilities – are gathering to share their experiences and ideas. These dialogues create a rare, safe space for honest conversations about the issues that matter most, from unemployment and social exclusion to the need for a stronger voice in local governance.
As they exchange ideas, something incredible happens: individual experiences and frustrations transform into a shared vision. These are more than talks; they are the foundation for collective action, empowering youth to build the practical solutions their communities need.
What begins as a conversation among young people can become a catalyst for peace, inclusion, and lasting change.
From Local Voices to National Vision
The journey does not end with dialogue and the local event. Through Dumisha Amani II project, the ideas, concerns, and recommendations raised in these community dialogues are directly shaping Tanzania’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS).
By connecting the voices of young people to national policymaking, the programme ensures that the country’s strategy for peace is built on the real-life experiences of its youth. It’s a powerful message: young people are not just part of the conversation; they are helping to write the plan.
When youth voices inform national action, dialogue becomes impact and participation becomes change.
Building Skills to Build Peace
To turn good ideas into action, you need the right tools. Dumisha Amani II project equips these young leaders with practical skills in inclusive leadership, conflict analysis, non-violent communication, mediation, advocacy, and civic engagement.
Through interactive learning and peer collaboration, they learn how to navigate differences, address tensions, and foster constructive dialogue within their communities before conflict arise.
Participants return to their communities not just with new knowledge, but with a renewed sense of purpose. As “Change Makers,” they are ready to lead conversations, mobilise their peers and champion a more peaceful and inclusive future for everyone.
Sustainable peace begins when young people are trusted to lead, empowered to act, and support.
What’s Next: A Future Led by Youth
The momentum is growing. To ensure this work continues to grow, the initiative is launching a digital youth campaign and a youth innovation challenge, calling on youth-led organisations to design fresh, creative solutions to the challenges they have identified. When young people are empowered to lead, peace becomes more than an aspiration – it becomes a shared reality. Dumisha Amani II project proves that investing in youth is the most powerful way to build a peaceful, inclusive and resilient Tanzania for generations to come.
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