This chapter focuses on the leadership of young women in reshaping militaristic narratives of armed conflict and violence into inclusive and sustainable peace processes and decision-making. By employing an intersectional feminist approach and centering young women-led peacebuilding initiatives, it demonstrates how young women leaders mobilize and influence at grassroots levels during transitions following a peace agreement. Drawing from qualitative data collected through the program Youth, Me, and Security: Strengthening Peaceful Leaders for the Philippines, implemented in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), it describes the diverse perspectives of young women on the relationship between socio-economic empowerment and peace; identifies their socio-economic strategies in peacebuilding; and showcases how young women exercise socio-economic agency in contributing to everyday peacebuilding. Findings reveal that sustainable economic progress for young women in conflict areas requires both legislation and grassroots efforts to shift cultural attitudes, expand agency, and amplify voices. Youth-led collaborative platforms can advance socio-economic development and peacebuilding simultaneously, while successful socio-economic transformation hinges on aligning local beliefs with targeted, interconnected actions. Through documenting the socio-economic contributions of young women to peacebuilding, this chapter amplifies their unique perspectives, enhancing broader peacebuilding discussions and contributing to national and international peace and security agendas.
