CMI is working with young people across the West Bank and Gaza to support constructive dialogue about the future of Palestine.
A newly launched three-year initiative in the West Bank and Gaza focuses on engaging young Palestinians in structured and inclusive dialogue on the future of Palestine, with the aim of strengthening their political agency in peacemaking.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Palestine-based Social Developmental Forum (SDF), responds to youth’s fragmentation, shrinking civic space and generational exclusion from decision-making.
It is co-funded by the European Union, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Ireland and runs from 2025 to 2028. Its inception phase in 2025 was supported by Ireland and Sweden through their core funding to CMI, with additional support continuing through core funding.
In the first phase, a series of dialogue workshops aim to reach 700 young people across the West Bank and Gaza. In the following phase, participants will connect, learn, and engage in discussions through secure online and in-person formats, supported by digital consultations.
A working group of youth will contribute to policy-oriented papers and join intergenerational exchanges with decision-makers at local and national levels. The aim is to strengthen trust and communication by fostering mutual understanding between youth and decision-makers on issues of shared concern. The initiative will culminate in an Innovation Challenge and a national-level online conference showcasing key outputs.
Spaces for dialogue about current realities and future pathways
The project aims to expand inclusive spaces in which Palestinian youth can have dialogue, exchange perspectives and be heard, explained CMI’s local expert.
“Youth must have spaces where they can share their viewpoints, and recently it has been very difficult for them. The work is implemented at a critical moment, with strong interest among youth in Gaza and the West Bank for spaces and discussions of this kind.”
Palestinian youth aged 18–34 have already begun attending locally grounded dialogue workshops. The first gathering, held in Cairo, addressed current realities for Gazans displaced in Egypt. By the end of June 2026, over 500 young women and men had participated in sessions across Egypt, the West Bank, and Gaza. One of the guiding questions was: Where do we stand today?
The participants, who came from SDF’s and CMI’s youth networks have discussed recent political, social, and economic developments in the West Bank and Gaza, identified key factors shaping life in Palestine, and reflected on political solutions and options for the future.
A member of the Social Developmental Forum said:
“These workshops provide safe spaces for youth to engage in dialogue, learn, and reflect on future pathways for Palestine.”
Participants also examined the links between humanitarian conditions and broader political dynamics and explored what a “just political settlement” could entail. They considered possible future scenarios and reflected on their personal realities in the context of ongoing conflict.
Elevating underrepresented voices
Together with CMI’s parallel work on women’s participation and inclusive dialogue, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to elevating underrepresented voices in peacebuilding and political decision-making. A separate stream of work supports young Palestinian women to engage meaningfully in conflict resolution and political decision-making.
CMI first started working in Palestine in 2010, facilitating dialogue among diverse Palestinian actors. Since then, it has worked with local partners to support inclusive dialogue processes involving communities, women’s networks and youth actors. CMI has sought to develop practical approaches that can support sustainable national unity and social cohesion.
