Open call for new members – Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN)

Do you have experience in mediation, peacemaking and peacebuilding in your community, or at a national, regional or international level? Are you keen to connect with other women to share your experiences of mediation and learn from each other? Are you passionate about expanding the space and opportunities for women in peace processes globally? Are you living and working in the Mediterranean region?

If so, you could join the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN).

The MWMN is an initiative promoted and funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Rome-based International Affairs Institute (IAI) and Women in International Security (WIIS) Italy, which held its Secretariat. It aims to fill a cooperation and capacity-building gap in the Mediterranean, one of the world’s most diverse and crucial regions.
Our network, among few other regional networks, works to bring together women active in the mediation field both at the grass-root, academic and political level across the Mediterranean region connecting local realities to global issues. The goal of the MWMN is to enhance opportunities and spaces for women’s meaningful inclusion in peace processes. The Network works as a community of practice and provides opportunities for women mediators to strengthen their existing capacities through peer-to-peer learning, mentoring and targeted training.

Since its foundation in 2017, the MWMN has been active in creating a space for experience sharing between its members, by promoting knowledge in the field of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security”. It has conducted gender-sensitive mediation trainings as well as long-distance education programmes and webinars, and it has launched its first local antennas supporting mediation initiatives in the field.
Working together with the other existing Regional Women Mediator Networks, namely the African Leaders Network (FemWise), the Nordic Women Mediators Network (NWM) and the Network of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth (WMC), a Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks was launched on September 2019, in the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly; and the MWMN coordinated its Secretariat for more than two years.

Ahead of 25th Anniversary of the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda, which will be celebrated next year, the Network is planning more initiatives across the region, including long-distance trainings with international experts and practitioners (webinars); peer-to-peer learning experiences; advocacy and awareness raising on the role of women as mediators and peacebuilders at the global, the regional and the local level, contributing to the major debates and ongoing reflections; and local initiatives on mediation.
As the project is growing, we are now inviting more women committed to the promotion of dialogue and mediation to prevent and resolve conflicts to join the network. We are seeking women from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations across the Mediterranean, who play an active role in mediating conflicts, both within communities and as part of official peace processes at national and regional levels, including experts on this field.

• Identify as a woman;
• working on peacebuilding and diplomacy and/or have an expertise on one of the following subjects: conflict studies, transitional justice, natural resources, violent extremism, climate change, disarmament, gender and security (UN SCR 1325);
• live in a Mediterranean country[1] and/or be a citizen of a Mediterranean country temporarily deployed abroad;
• be actively engaged in mediation at the community, the national, or the global level;
• have experience in mediation at large and the ability to work with and creatively resolve problems in complex conflict-affected contexts;
• have the ability to build trust between and within conflicting parties and create safe and inclusive spaces for dialogue and apply a gender sensitive approach;
• be willing to be an ‘Ambassador’ of the MWMN and commit to its founding principles and mission;
• be willing to travel and attend workshops and meetings in other countries on behalf of the Network.

• Believe and share the mission and values of the Network
• Commit to the Network and contribute to the achievement of its objectives.
• Be willing to share one’s expertise and experiences with other members.
• Serve as Ambassadors and Spokesperson for the Network.
• Advocate on behalf of the Network in various fora at the local, the regional and the global level.
• Increase strategic visibility and engage others in the Network’s work.
• Attend the Network’s activities which include workshops, training, meetings (at least 3 per year)
• Contribute to the Network’s Online blog (at least twice per year).
• Actively participate in promoting and raising awareness on the Network.

Being a member of MWMN gives the opportunity to advocate for greater women’s participation in peace processes globally and to become part to a wider community of practice, which includes a large network of women active in mediation and the possibility of being a member of the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks. It gives the opportunity to meet fellow experts in the field of mediation working at the local, the national or the global level, coming from different walks of life. Additionally, it allows to have a range of learning opportunities, including targeted training and peer-to-peer learning and mentoring.

Membership is open to any women who are involved or are starting to get involved in mediation and dialogue at the community, national, regional, or global level; who are interested in sharing their experience and expertise; and who are citizens of a Mediterranean country or have been residing in a Mediterranean country for an extensive period of time. Currently, we are specifically encouraging young women to apply.

The deadline is set to: September, 18, 2024 at 23:59 CET

The results will be communicated via email only to successful candidates tentatively by 7 October 2024.