Empowering Women for Peacebuilding: ACSOT Conducts WPS Workshops in Mekelle and Axum

The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT) successfully conducted two capacity-building workshops under the project “Peace by Her Hands: Building Inclusive and Lasting Peace through Women’s Empowerment.” The initiative is part of the Women Count for Peace program, supported by FCDO in partnership with ELiDA.

The workshops were held in:

Mekelle (March 09–10, 2026) with 60 participants (47 female, 13 male)
Axum (March 21–22, 2026) with 39 participants (29 female, 10 male)

In total, 99 participants took part, with over 75% women and 5% persons with disabilities, reflecting ACSOT’s strong commitment to inclusive participation.

The trainings brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including women-led civil society organizations, government representatives, gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and community leaders. This diversity enriched discussions and ensured that the workshops reflected the lived realities of communities affected by conflict.

The sessions focused on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, including UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Ethiopia’s National Action Plan. Through interactive methodologies such as group discussions, practical exercises, and role-play simulations, participants explored key topics including:

• Women’s empowerment and leadership
• Gender equality
• Conflict resolution and peacebuilding
• Negotiation and mediation skills

A key component of the workshops was safeguarding, including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), ensuring participants are equipped with ethical standards and protection mechanisms in their work.

Participants emphasized that sustainable peace begins at the household level, and that empowering women is essential for building resilient and peaceful communities. Many described the workshops as informative, engaging, and transformative, noting that such initiatives should be expanded to reach more communities across Tigray.

Beyond knowledge and skills development, the workshops strengthened collaboration and networking among participants, fostering a shared commitment to advancing inclusive peacebuilding efforts.

Despite minor logistical challenges, including transportation delays, the workshops achieved significant results in improving awareness, strengthening capacities, and promoting dialogue among stakeholders.

ACSOT reaffirms that strengthening women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding is critical to achieving sustainable peace, particularly in a region recovering from the impacts of conflict. The organization remains committed to expanding such initiatives and supporting community-driven peace efforts across Tigray.