In a bid to promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the AU and its peoples, the African Union, is awarding Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) involved in Youth, Women, Peace, and Security.
Characteristically, this award seeks to recognize the significant contribution that civil society makes to the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
According to the understanding on this, the initiative is also consistent with the African Union’s goal of creating a people-centered community and achieving Agenda 2063 for shared prosperity and well-being, unity and integration, and one continent of free citizens and horizons where the potential of women and young people are fully realized.
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Interestingly, therefore, Six (6) winners who have made significant contributions to the implementation of the WPS and YPS agenda in their communities or countries will be chosen.
- The applying organisations must demonstrate that they have made significant contributions in the following areas by completing extraordinary projects/activities including:
- The prevention of sexual and gender-based violence as well as the protection of women and young people in conflict *situations;
- Processes of conflict prevention, transformation, resolution, and consolidation of gender mainstreaming peace;
- An inclusive process of conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding;
- Strengthening effective and meaningful inclusion of women and young people in the process of peace;
- Inclusive stabilization and peacebuilding, including reconciliation, natural resource management, economic recovery, improved livelihoods, reintegration of warring factions, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
All the eligible applicants will be assessed based on specific criteria including, nominees who have made an extraordinary contribution to furthering the WPS or JPS agenda via collaboration, leadership, or innovation.
And then the chosen winners have inspired others with their courage and dedication.
Community
The nominees are those that have been involved in their communities, and their accomplishments have aided peace and security efforts as well as decision-making processes.
The CSO:
Peace efforts by an applicant must have been initiated under the umbrella of an African civil society organisation, CSO, working in the field of youth/women and peace and security in Africa;
The CSO must be in operation for at least 3 years and be registered in one of the 55 AU members states.
It must provide evidence of its main achievements in implementing activities related to the WPS/YPS agenda;
It shall not have been investigated for fraud, or other wrongdoing;
It must have the capacity to collaborate with the African Union as well as various stakeholders’
Selection Process.
The CSOs eligible for this award are:
- Those civil society organizations working on WPS and YPS agenda issues.
- Gender-related civil society organizations
- Networks run by or for women.
- Networks led by or for youths.
- Field/proximity organizations.
- Think tanks and research institutes focusing on WPS and JPS issues.
