Enabling Women's Potential in Peace Processes in the Sahel

The purpose of the initiative is to prepare women from conflict-affected Francophone countries to participate fully in current and/or future peace processes. This is done by offering them a cycle of technical training as well as tools so they can fully participate in the various steps of the peace process. The project seeks to address the shortage of training in French in this area. It is aimed at women leaders who have distinguished themselves through their involvement in the community politics the economy and/or society and who come from the Sahel region (Mali Burkina Faso Niger Mauritania and Chad) as well as Côte d’Ivoire. The training takes place in Burkina Faso Mauritania and/or at the École de Maintien de la Paix in Bamako Mali. The project includes the following activities: (1) enhancing participants’ knowledge of various topics relating to the peace process; (2) building relationships among the various participants; (3) introducing participants to potential peace process partners donors and stakeholders to encourage their involvement.

The project’s expected results are as follows: (1) a change in behaviour among the women participants in that they are empowered in their actions; (2) a change in practice among the participants in that they undertake collective action and support each other’s involvement in peace processes; (3) a change in performance in that participants are more involved in local regional and national peace processes.