From 5-7 June 2012, Dr Martha Mutisi represented ACCORD at the International Learning Exchange on Gender and Conflict Analysis in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Learning Exchange facilitated ACCORD’s ongoing contribution to global conversations on gender and conflict transformation, and confirmed the institution’s concerted efforts towards promoting the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The Learning Exchange was jointly organised by the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), the West Africa Network for Peace building Côte d’Ivoire (WANEP-CI) and the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP). ACCORD is a long time partner and member of GPPAC, and was one of the fifteen organisations from Asia and Africa represented at this meeting. The Learning Exchange provided the opportunity for participants to discuss the importance of gender-sensitive approaches to peace building and preventive action practice.
This meeting allowed the group to share experiences with Ivorian women peacebuilders on gender-sensitive approaches to post conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding in Côte d’Ivoire. Furthermore, the three-day exchange presented Dr Martha Mutisi, Manager of the Interventions Department at ACCORD, to share with participants the ACCORD model of integrating gender analysis into institutional programming processes, where gender is a cross-cutting theme within institutional programs, planning and implementation processes. Following the end of the Learning Exchange, participants provided specific recommendations on how gender perspectives could enhance peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
One of the outcomes of this event was the development of regional plans of action for GPPAC Asia and Africa members. ACCORD, being the leader of GPPAC Southern Africa region, took the lead in developing a regional action plan focusing on continuing conversations on gender-sensitive conflict analysis between members of GPPC Southern Africa through a conference and networking. Additionally, ACCORD will also apply the recommendations emerging from the Learning Exchange which directly apply to the institution’s work in both the Interventions Department and Knowledge Production Department.
