Women PeaceMakers Program 2017 for Female Peacebuilders (Fully Funded to San Diego, USA)

Application Deadline: May 31st 2017

The Women PeaceMakers Program at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) offers a unique fellowship program for women building peace in their communities to participate in an active learning community. The aim of the Women PeaceMakers program is to build stronger, more effective collaborations between peacebuilders from conflict-affected communities and international peace partners. This will be a 10-month fellowship to explore successes and challenges to their work ending cycles of violence.

Each year, four Women PeaceMakers are selected and paired with four international partners to establish a community of practice that continues beyond the program itself. The Women PeaceMakers program uses reflective practice to build mutual learning and stronger collaboration between “insiders” and “outsiders” (local peacebuilders from conflict-affected communities, and peacebuilders from elsewhere who are trying to support efforts to end the conflict).

2017-18 Focus: Women PeaceMakers’ Engagement with the Security Sector

Each year, an urgent peacebuilding issue is identified and participants are selected based on their work in that area. During the 2017-18 academic year, the program will focus on Women PeaceMakers working with the local security sector (police, military and other state security forces) to advance peacebuilding, human security, and women’s rights in pre-, during or post-conflict settings. The guiding question that the fellows will work on is:

How can Women PeaceMakers and international partners build more effective local/global collaborations in their peacebuilding efforts to engage the security sector?

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for the Women PeaceMakers fellowship must:

• Have worked for 10+ years as a peacebuilder, human rights defender, or peacemaker, leading peace efforts designing and working directly with the security sector in her country of origin;
• Be a founder or leader of an organization, network, or movement;
• Demonstrates peacebuilding/peacemaking skills and attitudes;
• Be in a position to participate in all activities during the 10-month fellowship and apply what is learned at the conclusion of the residency program;
• Demonstrate local credibility and a strong social network within the country/community of practice;
• Speak sufficient English to relate personal experiences. Written English is not necessary.

COMPONENTS OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Four Women PeaceMakers are selected for the 10-month fellowship. Each Woman PeaceMaker is paired with an international partner and work with a peace researcher.

• Women PeaceMakers Residency (September 24 – November 11, 2017)

Location: Institute for Peace and Justice

Selected Women PeaceMakers participate in a 7-week residency at the University of San Diego. To complement the work PeaceMakers are doing with their international partners, they will:

• Work together with a peace researcher to map the methods used and challenges faced when engaging with the security sector.
• Share peacebuilding experiences with faculty, students and community members at the University of San Diego.
• Live with fellow Women PeaceMakers, while sharing with and learning from one another’s peacemaking journeys.
• Cultivate a reflective peacebuilding practice in a safe and nurturing environment that promotes new learning and an authentic exchange of ideas.
• Learning Lab (1 week in October 2017)

Location: Institute for Peace and Justice

During the Residency, Women PeaceMakers and International partners meet together at the IPJ for one week to discuss the obstacles both groups face in their work. Through shared understanding and a deep analysis of the issues, a Partnership Compact is developed as an identification and adoption of strategies to build more effective collaboration

• Virtual Learning Exchange (September 2017 – June 2018)

Location: Virtual/ Home-based (Email, Skype, Phone)

Over the course of the fellowship, participants engage in ongoing learning, based on the Partnership Compact – about successes or continued challenges they face in the field, and strategies for more meaningful cooperation.

• Localization Initiative (June – July 2018)

Location: Woman PeaceMaker local context

Women PeaceMakers have the opportunity to apply for funding (up to $7,500 US) to implement a community-based initiative in their home country focused on the Partnership Compact with local stakeholders.

• Women PeaceMakers Alumnae Network

Upon completion of the 10-month fellowship, alumnae will be invited to join the network of 56 Women PeaceMakers from 38 countries

PROGRAM COST

• There is no cost to participate in the Women PeaceMakers Program. Selected peacemakers will receive a per diem to cover their living costs during the residency. This funding is to be used for meals and incidentals, and any local transportation needs apart from residency activities.
• The program provides all funding related to securing a visa, travel and airfare to and from San Diego at the beginning and end of the residency, and lodging throughout the seven weeks.
• The program encourages applicants to seek supplemental funding from other sources if needed, although the funding provided by the IPJ for those selected will be sufficient for the full seven weeks.

LODGING

Housing will be provided at La Casa de la Paz, “The House of Peace,” on the campus of the University of San Diego in California. The “Casa” is a private residence adjacent to the IPJ, on the grounds of a beautiful garden that overlooks Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Applications must include:

1. The completed and signed 2017 Application Form. (See below)
2. A written statement describing:
3. Why you are interested in participating in the 2017 Women PeaceMakers Program. (No more than 2 pages)
4. Your journey of becoming a peacemaker including:
5. Through your work, how do you engage with the security sector? (No more than 2 pages)
6. Do you work with international partners (INGOs, international donors, UN agencies, or others)?

A resume or curriculum vitae of your professional peacemaking activities and educational background. (No more than 3 pages)

SEND COMPLETED APPLICATION BY EMAIL OR POST TO:

Katie Zanoni

Program Officer for Women PeaceMakers

Email: kzanoni@sandiego.edu

Mailing Address:

Katie Zanoni

Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice

Kroc School of Peace Studies

University of San Diego

5998 Alcala Park

San Diego, CA 92110

USA

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2017 Women PeaceMakers Program