Harnessing Youth Leadership to Reduce Violence: Comparative Lessons for Nigeria's Middle Belt

This publication is co-authored by IFIT experts María Lucía Méndez Lacorazza and Juana Inés Acosta-López. This report, part of a trilogy of IFIT publications to support peace innovation in Nigeria's Middle Belt, examines how youth leadership can be harnessed to reduce violence in the region. It draws comparative lessons from influential youth-led initiatives in Colombia, Mexico, and Zimbabwe, exploring how the initiatives address social exclusion and contested belonging, disrupt pathways into violence and criminality, strengthen local mechanisms for conflict prevention and de-escalation, and create opportunities beyond employment. The report highlights the importance of meaningful youth participation in decision-making, embedding youth-led efforts within legitimate community structures, and recognising the diverse experiences and needs of young people. It concludes with practical recommendations for practitioners seeking to design and implement violence reduction initiatives in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.