MOGADISHU, Somalia — Women leaders, peace committee members and community peace actors from Galmudug State have completed a three-day training focused on conflict resolution, mediation and peacebuilding, as part of efforts to strengthen women’s participation in local peace processes.
The training was delivered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) through its Building Women’s Economic Resilience for Sustainable Peace (BWERSP) project.
Opening the programme, IGAD Head of Mission to Somalia Mohamud Abdi Ahmed said the training was designed to emphasize practical application, urging participants to use the skills gained to address local disputes, strengthen social cohesion and support sustainable peace.
Participants received training in conflict prevention and analysis, mediation, negotiation, dialogue facilitation and advocacy. The sessions also examined the Women, Peace and Security agenda and the contribution women can make to conflict prevention, dispute resolution and community resilience.
The programme addressed barriers that limit women’s participation in formal peace and governance structures, including social, cultural and institutional challenges. Participants used tools such as Conflict Trees, Connectors and Dividers Analysis, Stakeholder Mapping and Power Mapping to identify the causes of disputes, influential actors and possible pathways toward resolution.
Sessions on gender-responsive early warning highlighted the role of women in identifying emerging tensions through their close connections with families and community networks.
Participants also took part in practical role plays based on community and land disputes, applying mediation and negotiation techniques such as active listening, dialogue and inclusive engagement. The training further examined how misinformation and social media can intensify tensions and explored ways to engage government institutions, clan leaders and customary governance structures in peacebuilding efforts.
The programme concluded with action plans aimed at increasing women’s representation, influence, safety and leadership within peace committees and community peacebuilding structures.
Participants called for greater support for women leaders, expanded economic empowerment opportunities, stronger implementation of gender-responsive policies and greater recognition of women’s traditional leadership platforms alongside customary governance systems.
The BWERSP project is financed by the African Development Bank through its Transition Support Facility and implemented by IGAD in Somalia and South Sudan. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen women’s role in peacebuilding, inclusive governance and community resilience.
