Strengthening Women’s Networks Through Mentorship and Peer Learning

As part of GIZ’s ParticiLogue – Supporting Participation and Dialogue in Yemen project, elbarlament implemented a Mentorship and Peer Learning Programme designed to strengthen the agency, organisational capacities and participation of women and women’s networks in Aden, Taiz and Hadramout.

The programme brought together 40 women, comprising 20 mentors and 20 mentees, from formal and informal women’s networks and organisations. It combined practical training, structured mentorship, peer learning and cross-regional exchange, supporting participants to strengthen their skills and apply their learning to concrete organisational and community priorities.

The programme began with a five-day launch workshop in Aden, where participants explored topics including institutional development, advocacy and communication, mentorship, networking and safe participation. Participants were then matched into mentor–mentee tandems and supported throughout the programme through individual guidance, peer-learning exchanges and follow-up sessions.

A mid-point virtual convening provided additional opportunities for participants to exchange experiences and develop their skills, while a second five-day workshop brought the programme to a close by focusing on strategic networking, alliance-building, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and organisational sustainability.

Alongside the learning activities, the programme produced bilingual mentoring and training resources, practical organisational tools and guidance materials that participants and their networks can continue to use. The programme also documented participants’ experiences and examples of how the knowledge and skills gained contributed to their professional, organisational and community engagement.

By connecting women across organisations and governorates and combining training with sustained mentorship and peer support, the programme created opportunities for women to strengthen their networks, share knowledge and take a more active role in civic and community life.