Empowering Women Climate Activists in MENA: elbarlament’s Online Training Bridges WPS and Climate Action

We successfully concluded our six-week online training on the nexus of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Climate Activism for 41 women climate leaders from Iraq and across the MENA region. The training aimed to build participants’ capacity to address climate challenges through a gender-sensitive, peacebuilding lens.

Delivered in partnership with Res Publica Consulting, the training offered 10 interactive sessions covering a wide range of practical topics: digital security, climate advocacy, proposal writing, conflict resolution, and intersectional research. Participants praised the program’s hands-on approach, collaborative environment, and relevance to local and regional challenges.

Key outcomes include:

• 73% of participants improved their scores in post-training assessments.

• Strong gains in skills related to negotiation, digital safety, and climate-focused advocacy.

• A vibrant network of women activists committed to future regional collaboration.

The program was grounded in a sustainable model—equipping participants with tools, templates, and real-world examples they can apply and share in their communities. It also aligned with donor priorities from organizations such as UN Women, UNDP, the EU, Sida, and the Arab Reform Initiative, all emphasizing the critical role of women in climate resilience and peacebuilding.

As one participant put it: “This was more than a training—it was a catalyst for change.”

elbarlament is proud to contribute to this growing movement for gender-responsive climate action in MENA and looks forward to building on the momentum with future initiatives.