CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Women Mediators and Peacemakers in Africa
Connecting Women Mediators and Peacemakers in Africa
WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN CONFLICT MITIGATION, GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN AFRICA
Cape Town, South Africa: October 6-7, 2011
This is an invitation to nominate women leaders and activists in conflict engagement and economic progress from Africa to participate in the “Connecting Women Mediators and Peacemakers in Africa” program. Please respond by 30 May 2011.
I. Background
Transparent decision-making processes and collaborative, inclusive policy-making are essential to mitigate conflict and promote good governance. In Africa, women leaders are crucial to the promotion and implementation of participatory processes that will strengthen accountability through greater transparency and civic engagement. Unfortunately, while women can be vital players in resolving conflicts and sustaining peace, they are typically left out of mediating institutions and collaborative policymaking. In their absence, conflicts continue to foment instability and corruption.
Connecting Women Mediators and Peacemakers in Africa is a pilot program that Vital Voices is launching with Partners for Democratic Change, a US-based organization with expertise in conflict management and constructive social change, the African Centre for Dispute Settlement, a South African organization focused on promoting mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution. The program aims to train and support African women leaders who are actively cultivating conditions that mitigate conflict, promote good governance, spur economic development and advance human progress. By examining the dearth of women's participation in conflict resolution and collaborative policy-making, the program will address the scourge of increased conflict and government instability in Sub-Saharan Africa.
II. Activities and Goals
As the World Bank notes, “in the long run peacekeeping and peace-building are determined by economic development rather than by peacekeeping forces.” Vital Voices, the African Centre for Dispute Settlement, and Partners for Democratic Change recognize the powerful and significant role that economic development can play in moving societies towards stability and progress. Not only does such development empower communities to work towards peace, it can provide women with another opportunity to engage in society.
Therefore, in October 2011, we will bring together 10 women experts and conflict management practitioners from across the continent to discuss and research the roles women can, and sometimes do play—behind the scenes—in African peace initiatives. The program has two phases: the first focuses on bringing together a select group of experts and women leaders to research, analyze, and document conflict resolution methodologies in Africa, particularly the intersection between good governance and institutional sustainability; the second builds on this research by generating five case studies, including at least two focused on issues related to good governance and transparency, and merging them into a compendium for publication in several languages. Through dissemination of the compendium, we expect sustained engagement with the group and the opportunity to track the women's progress as effective conflict resolvers and empowered leaders at national and local levels.
III. Nomination Process
We are asking you to nominate women leaders and activists in conflict engagement and economic development from Africa to participate in the “Connecting Women Mediators and Peacemakers in Africa” program in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 6-7, 2011. Vital Voices Global Partnership will pay for all travel and accommodation costs of the participants during the course of the program. We are initially targeting African women leaders and activists for this first phase of the program, with the intent to incorporate men into the network in subsequent phases. To meet the specific goals of this first phase, we are also initially targeting women who have a conversational level of either English or French.
To nominate a participant, please send the following information to Carey Hogg, Vital Voices' Political Program Officer at careyhogg@vitalvoices.org by 30 May 2011:
Nominee's full name, title, and organization affiliation
Nominee's brief biography (1-2 paragraphs), specifying nominee's dispute resolution experience
Nominee's contact details (especially telephone numbers and e-mail addresses).
We are prepared to consider self-nominations; and also nominations of more than one person. Please also feel free to indicate other organizations to which we should forward this request for nominations.
Nominees will be contacted by Vital Voices and will be asked to fill out an application form that includes some basic information about themselves, their experiences and suitability to attend the programme. On the basis of this information, a panel of staffers from Vital Voices, the African Centre for Dispute Settlement, and Partners for Democratic Change will draw up a short list and successful participants will be notified by 30 June 2011.
We look forward to receiving your nominations, and thank you for your interest and support in this initiative.
For more information, please see: http://www.vitalvoices.org/