ACCORD led a training session focusing on Women, Peace Networks, and Understanding Mediation Stages and Tactics. This advanced training which took place at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, South Africa, on February 29th, 2024, served as a platform to empower participants with the skills and knowledge needed for navigating complex conflicts landscapes.
Mrs Pravina Makan-Lakha, ACCORD’s Advisor on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), led the session, emphasizing the crucial role of women’s peace networks in conflict resolution. Drawing the case studies from South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, the discussion explored various aspects of peace networks. Ms Catherine Vitaliano, ACCORD Intern, further enriched the session by presenting a dedicated case study on South Sudan’s women’s peace networks. Ms. Vitaliano highlighted the continuous engagement of these networks throughout the country’s peace process, from pre-independence to the present day.
Notably, twenty-five participants from various African nations graduated from the Advanced training. The participants expressed their appreciation for the insightful sessions and the timely focus on the crucial role of women in peacebuilding efforts, which is particularly relevant in the face of current conflict trends across Africa. They further acknowledged the invaluable contribution of ACCORD to WPS initiatives on the continent and commended the collaborative co-facilitation approach in training with a junior colleague representing the country case study of South Sudan. This approach was seen as an exemplary model for fostering intergenerational knowledge transfer and capacity building within the peacebuilding field.
ACCORD continues to shape the landscape of peacebuilding across Africa, ensuring that the voices and contributions of women remain central to the forging of sustainable peace and security.
