Youth agency in urban peace-building: a case study of the Amhara Youth Association in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Youth are increasingly seen as key players in peace-building. This study examines the role of the Amhara Youth Association (AYA), specifically the Bahir Dar City Youth Association (BCYA), in peace-building efforts. It uses qualitative data gathered from semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis. The study also explores youth peace-building activities across the political, social, economic, and security spheres. The findings show that while AYA/BCYA has been active in community security, humanitarian efforts, political advocacy, and livelihood support, it faces challenges from high unemployment, limited funding, political pressure, and weak institutional support. Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities for meaningful youth involvement in peace-building. These include supportive policy frameworks, a large membership base, and a growing recognition of youth civic engagement in society. To alleviate these challenges, significant efforts are required, particularly from the government, to create an enabling environment for youth to play a greater role in peace-building.