The Western Balkans continue to navigate the long-term impacts of the 1990s conflicts. Many communities across the region still face polarization, fragile trust in institutions, and persistent social divisions.
The UN Peacebuilding Fund-supported initiative in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia responds to the challenges by creating spaces where young people can engage across communities, build mutual understanding and participate in shaping more inclusive futures.
Before the initiative, many young people and women felt that they were often excluded from local decision-making processes. There was a lack of functional mechanisms to voice their ideas, mistrust between youth and authorities, and limited investment in youth-focused initiatives.
Photo above: Igor Josifoski, President of the Youth Council in Ohrid, Northern Macedonia. Credit: Igor Josifoski Photo below: Training on inclusion, identity, and intercultural dialogue. Credit: UNFPA
Igor, President of the Youth CouncilOhrid, Northern MacedoniaWhen you see institutions trust you, you learn to trust them back. And that changes everything."
Breaking prejudice, bridging divides
The Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality & Trust initiative organized workshops, regional exchanges, and locally led initiatives.
Young people joined newly established youth councils, helping to bridge the gap between youth and local institutions.
They participated in journalism mentorship programmes, empowering young reporters to challenge prejudice and amplify inclusive narratives.
Across the region, young people are transforming divided spaces into places of connection. In Struga, Northern Macedonia, for example, a once-neglected sports field has been turned into a shared intercultural hub, bringing together communities that rarely interacted.
Photo below: Youth marking International Youth Day 2025 in Kosovo. Credit: UNDP
Institutionalizing youth leadership
More than 14,000 young people—two-thirds of them women—have been reached through the peacebuilding initiative which supported the development of 22 youth policies and action plans, helping to integrate youth participation into governance systems.
In 57 municipalities, young people are now actively involved in decision-making processes, contributing to stronger trust and improved dialogue across diverse communities.
Tuana, participantMamush?, KosovoIt was fun, but also meaningful. I felt like my opinion mattered for the first time.”
A blueprint for action
The peacebuilding initiative's impact was designed to last. Local authorities are now co-financing projects under the initiative. For example, youth policies and dedicated budget lines have been institutionalized in other Northern Macedonian cities such as Veles, Struga, Gostivar and Bitola.
Most importantly, the initiative produced the first practical guide for localizing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda across the Western Balkans, which is now used by community organizations across the region to guide their work.
Our partners in peacebuilding in Western Balkans
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The initiative was implemented with the support of the , , , , national, local and municipal authorities across the region as well as critical youth networks.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.