ACCORD hosted a capacity-building workshop titled Conversations with Women Mediators and Peacebuilders in Africa from 14–15 November 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The workshop brought together women mediators, peacebuilders, and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) experts from Southern, Central, East, and West Africa. Participants included representatives from continental, regional, and national institutions such as the African Union Commission’s (AUC)’s Mediation and Dialogue Division (MDD), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), and SADC member state representatives. Women mediator networks in attendance included the Economic Community for Central African States (ECCAS) Women Mediators Network, the FemWise- (economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Women Mediators Network, and the Gertrude Shope Women Mediators Network. Additionally, local organisations such as the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) as well as the Embassy of Norway in South Africa also participated.
Facilitated by ACCORD’s WPS Advisor, the workshop aimed to create a platform for women mediator networks and peacebuilders to share effective strategies, best practices, and experiences in mediation, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution. It sought to enhance regional cooperation among women-led networks and peacebuilding initiatives by fostering connections and solidarity among participants from various countries. The workshop also aimed to develop tailored solutions to address unique regional challenges through collaborative problem solving. Furthermore, it provided women peacebuilders with new insights and support to strengthen their effectiveness in mediation and peacebuilding efforts, particularly in advancing gender equality in conflict-affected areas. Additionally, the workshop focused on documenting and disseminating successful mediation and peacebuilding approaches implemented by different women-led networks, creating a valuable repository of knowledge for future use.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Gloria Kabage, representing the AUC MDD, reaffirmed the AU’s steadfast commitment to the WPS agenda, with a strong emphasis on empowering women in mediation processes. She highlighted that this support is critical to enhancing the role of women in mediation and conflict resolution, fostering inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding initiatives, and ensuring that gender perspectives are systematically integrated at all stages of peace processes, from negotiations to implementation.
The workshop concluded with actionable recommendations and strategies designed to address specific regional challenges. These outcomes are expected to contribute to more effective mediation, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution efforts. ACCORD remains dedicated to strengthening the role of women in preventing, mitigating, and resolving complex conflicts across the continent.
