The Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute (WYSPI) in partnership with West African Network of Young Women Leaders (ROAJELF), Benin, organized a workshop in Cotonou from May 13 – 17, 2024. on theme “enhancing the capacity of local actors to prevent and respond to GBV”. The workshop, aimed to equip local actors with knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) effectively.
Participants that attended the five-day workshop were drawn from civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, media as well as persons with disabilities were selected from various regions across Benin. The training covered topics such as the causes, impacts, and prevention strategies of GBV.
WYSPI and ROAJELF emphasized the importance of collaboration and advocacy in combating GBV. Participants were urged to work together, share resources, and become strong advocate for gender equality in their communities.
Stakeholder Consultations in Uganda, Nigeria and Senegal
WYPSI successfully organized stakeholder consultative meetings in Uganda, Nigeria, and Senegal as part of the ongoing SIDA-funded project. This initiative aimed to assess youth participation in leadership and peacebuilding in the targeted countries, following similar engagements previously conducted in Kenya. The meetings were instrumental in gathering insights and perspectives from various national youth-based groups, grassroots organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), government agencies, and international bodies.
Through these engagements, the team was able to learn first-hand about the experiences and efforts of these diverse stakeholders in promoting youth involvement in leadership and peacebuilding. The consultative process resulted in the preparation of comprehensive reports that identified existing gaps and challenges. Moving forward, a symposium will be organized to validate these findings and to develop actionable recommendations to enhance youth participation in leadership and peacebuilding efforts across the region.
