On 23rd March 2021, ACCORD hosted the first training session of the Managing Conflict, Intervening for Peace: Young Leaders Respond’ event. The training, facilitated by Ms Alison Lazarusfocused specifically on Conflict Analysis Tools and Applications. Some of the key themes explored during the training were peacebuilding characteristics, conflict analysis tools and approaches to intervention. The participants engaged in a range of different activities that assisted them in navigating these key themes in a practical context. Overall, this training sought to lay the foundation of conflict management in preparation for the upcoming training, coaching and mentoring sessions.
The training is part of ACCORD’s research project with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), which seeks to document the role and nuanced experiences of women leaders who have or are currently meaningfully involved in peacebuilding processes, while also bringing both senior and young women peacebuilders together for inter-generational exhange. The project seeks to address the gender gaps in the literature on Women, Peace and Security by detailing and drawing lessons from the unique experiences of these women and underlining their value-addition to sustainable development and durable peace.
It is against this backdrop that ACCORD, in partnership with IDRC, has convened a one-month long event titled ‘Managing Conflict, Intervening for Peace: Young Leaders Respond’. This event will consist of 6 conflict management training sessions and 2 coaching and mentoring sessions for young women who have or are currently meaningfully involved in peacebuilding processes in Southern Africa. The principal objectives of the event seek to :
- Facilitate intergenerational experience-sharing and training towards enhanced learning and collaboration among Southern African women in the areas of justice, peace, and reconciliation;
- Enhance knowledge and understanding of young women involved in processes of peacebuilding, as well as the role they can play and good practices of those with prior experience;
- Increase awareness and appreciation of the contributions of women who have taken leadership to bring about peace;
- Increase capacity and confidence of young women to participate and greater prominence of young voices in future peace processes garnered through interactions and trainings; and
- Enhance networking and collaboration among young women leaders engaged in peacebuilding across the region that can feed into policy processes.
This event locates itself in ACCORD’s strategic pillar 3: “Enhanced Role of Women in Peace Processes,” and pillar 4: “Increased roles of youth in peace processes.” Furthermore, it is part of the broader agenda of UNSC Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
ACCORD looks forward to organising more trainings on conflict management to increase women and youths’ participation in all levels of decision-making.
