Call for Applications: Young Women Peacebuilders Programme in the Arab States (Third Cohort)

The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut, in partnership with the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States, has announced the call for applications for the third cohort of the Young Women Peacebuilders Programme in the Arab States.

This follows the success of the 2021 and 2023 editions, continuing efforts to empower young women in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agendas, as well as the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The programme is part of the broader initiative “Enhancing Women’s Leadership for Sustainable Peace in Fragile Contexts in the MENA Region,” funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in collaboration with GIZ.

Participants will receive training that enhances their knowledge and leadership skills in peacebuilding, conflict analysis, mediation, and advocacy, while promoting their active participation in peace and security efforts across the region.

Building on the achievements of the 2023 cohort, which trained 46 young women from 13 countries, the 2025 programme will select 30 to 35 participants, with a focus on candidates from Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen.

The curriculum covers a range of topics, including UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250, gender-sensitive peacebuilding, negotiation and reconciliation strategies, preventive diplomacy, and regional case studies.

Selected participants will benefit from mentorship by experts from IFI and UN Women, become part of a regional network of peacebuilders, and have opportunities to attend events and trainings. They will also receive a certificate of completion and gain practical skills to contribute meaningfully to peace and security agendas in their communities.

The programme will run from 11 August to 21 August 2025, consisting of 40 hours of online sessions scheduled daily from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, excluding Fridays and weekends. A graduation ceremony will be held on 28 August, with the week between dedicated to group work and project finalization. Although this final week is optional, applicants are expected to remain available through to the graduation date.

Graduates will be invited to join the Young Women Peacebuilders Network—a platform that connects alumni from all cohorts. Through this network, participants will continue their engagement via peer exchanges, collaborative peacebuilding efforts, and mentorship opportunities. The network is designed to sustain leadership development and extend the programme’s long-term impact.

To apply, candidates must be women aged 18 to 35 from any UN Women Arab States member country. They should have experience in peacebuilding, human rights, or related advocacy and be involved in youth-led or youth-serving initiatives. Applicants should not have previously participated in this programme and must have regular access to communication technologies. Women from conflict-affected countries, refugee backgrounds, those with disabilities, and rural communities are especially encouraged to apply.