Researchers Without Borders (REWiB), working in partnership with the African Union’s Gender, Peace and Security Programme, is welcoming applications from young African women to join a groundbreaking training initiative. The programme is designed to build the capacity of participants to track, document, and evaluate how the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda is being implemented across Africa.

The training, which will take place in November 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will bring together 20 young women who are actively engaged in promoting peace, justice, and accountability. Through a mix of technical learning and practical experience, they will acquire the skills to design and lead community-based monitoring projects that hold institutions and governments responsible for fulfilling their commitments to women and young people.

The WPS framework, together with the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda, remains vital for advancing gender equality and fostering peace on the continent. Yet, progress is often undermined by weak accountability structures and the limited involvement of young women in decision-making spaces. This programme aims to address these gaps by preparing a new generation of monitors who can push for greater accountability. Their contributions will form part of a continental monitoring compendium shared with the African Union, governments, and WPS-HA Compact partners, ensuring that perspectives from local communities influence regional and continental policymaking.

By the end of the programme, participants will have gained strong knowledge of both the WPS and YPS agendas, along with hands-on experience in community monitoring, data collection, and reporting. They will also be supported to design and launch youth-led accountability projects in their own contexts. Each participant will receive a certificate of completion endorsed by the African Union and programme partners, and they will join a growing network of young African monitors with access to key AU and UN platforms. This unique combination of knowledge, skills, and networks will enable them to shape policies and drive meaningful change at different levels of governance.

The call is intended for 20 young African women between the ages of 22 and 30 who are nationals of AU member states. Applicants should already be engaged in peacebuilding, advocacy, community organizing, or human rights work, and they must be passionate about amplifying women’s voices in matters of peace and security. Women from fragile or conflict-affected areas are especially encouraged to apply, as the programme seeks participants who are already making an impact in their communities and are ready to expand their leadership.

Those selected will take part in a five-day in-person training in Addis Ababa in November 2025, followed by virtual learning and mentorship sessions. Each participant will be expected to design and implement a localized monitoring project in their community and produce a report or narrative brief that feeds into the continental WPS compendium. This structure ensures that the knowledge gained is immediately translated into action, allowing participants to contribute directly to monitoring the implementation of peace and security commitments.

This initiative is especially significant given the evolving security challenges in Africa, many of which disproportionately affect women and youth. Although young women often play central roles in sustaining peace, they are still frequently excluded from decision-making and policy implementation. By equipping them with the right tools, this training will empower them to amplify community voices, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure leaders deliver on their promises.

Through this investment in young women leaders, REWiB and the African Union are helping to create lasting pathways toward peace and gender equality. The programme underscores their shared commitment to ensuring that women’s perspectives are not only included but are central to shaping Africa’s peace and security agenda.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity