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Networks of women (leaders) can play a critical role in ensuring collaborations and exchanges of ideas, which ultimately can strengthen inclusion through women’s political participation and sustainable peace. Oftentimes, many such spaces already exist but might be operating through informal networks or ‘hidden’ spaces. This is particularly often the case in post-conflict contexts where many networks of women leaders or activists have had to go into hiding during active conflict and might not have been able to work in formal settings
This activity lays out how intersectional spaces may be supported or created with the intention to discuss or raise awareness around a specific issue or more generally as a means of bringing women and/or various stakeholders and champions together. In many post-conflict societies, this is particularly important, since such networks have often been operating underground, playing a key role in political transition processes. If sustained and nurtured, they can play a critical role in maintaining peace and ensuring women’s active engagement in it.
Below is a guiding checklist that can help practitioners supporting facilitation of such networks to ensure inclusion of diverse and intersecting voices.
Although grassroots movements, organizations or civils society typically facilitate discussions and dialogues, an Electoral Management Body (EMB) may accommodate and support the sustaining of an intersectional space where women can meet and discuss among themselves; but also importantly with the EMB, they can discuss matters that relate to the electoral process as part of the stakeholder engagement by EMBs. An EMB may tap into an existing network or actively create one – though in the case of the later, the group may come together to discuss electoral issues while it also engages on topics beyond the interest and mandate of an EMB outside of this particular forum. It is usually most appropriate that an EMB or an international organization working through an electoral project that may support this activity mainly offers support through logistics to ensure that ownership of such networks is fully localized. This is critical for a number of reasons, including to avoid any sensitivities around international involvement in existing local community networks, ensuring protection of the women involved in such networks, and to ensure that they are sustained long-term.
Although generally low cost, it is difficult to give an exact sense of costings, but it can likely relate to the logistics of arranging meetings and gatherings, including venue costs and participants’ allowances.
Arab Leadership Academy for Women
Across the Arab States, UNDP, in collaboration with the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division, has launched the regional Arab Leadership Academy for Women, which aims to unite established and emerging women leaders from diverse backgrounds to catalyze change and promote compassionate and transformative leadership. Through a collaborative design and implementation approach, the regional Leadership Academy and its national chapters aim to (a) cultivate compassionate transformational leadership, driving inclusive development and fostering peace; (b) forge powerful synergies by uniting established and emerging women leaders, catalyzing impactful change; and (c) change the narrative to normalize the presence of women in influential leadership roles, both regionally and nationally.
Read more here: https://www.undp.org/arab-states/launch-arab-leadership-academy-women
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