The Capacity Strengthening Initiative (CSI) by ACCORD has made remarkable progress this year in empowering local women peacebuilders. As part of this initiative, ‘In Our Backyard’ community workshops were organized in the provinces of Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape between August and November 2023. These workshops aimed to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about the South African National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (SA NAP on WPS) among local communities.
The women peacebuilders who had undergone capacity-building training conducted these workshops and facilitated discussions that focused on the diverse strategies and pillars outlined in the SA NAP on WPS. The workshops encouraged active participation, particularly from women, in implementing these strategies, promoting inclusivity and fostering local ownership of peacebuilding efforts.
ACCORD remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing the role of women in preventing, mitigating, and resolving complex conflicts, as emphasized in its institution-wide 2022–2026 vision. The initiative aligns with the strategic objective 1.2.3 of the SA NAP, which highlights the importance of enhancing community-level understanding and participation in peace processes.
Participants will provide feedback on these ‘In Our Backyard’ community workshops to ACCORD during the final CSI Retreat taking place in November 2023.
