Mid-Point Convening Brings Women’s Networks in Southern Yemen Together for Learning and Reflection

elbarlament recently brought participants in the Professional Mentorship and Peer Learning Programme for Women’s Networks in Southern Yemen together for a mid-point virtual convening.

The convening marked an important milestone in the programme, providing an opportunity for mentors and mentees to reflect on their progress, share experiences and strengthen their learning as they move into the next phase of their mentorship journey.

Following the programme’s five-day kick-off workshop and the launch of the mentorship phase, participants have been implementing their Tandem Learning Plans and engaging in peer-learning activities. The mid-point convening created space to take stock of this experience, discuss emerging challenges and identify priorities for the remainder of the programme.

Bringing together 40 women from formal and informal women’s networks across Aden, Taiz and Hadramout, the convening also responded directly to areas of learning identified by participants during the first phase of the programme.

A key focus was on advanced advocacy and campaigning, including strategic advocacy planning, stakeholder and power mapping, developing effective messages and influencing decision-makers in complex and resource-constrained environments. Participants explored how these approaches could be applied within their own networks and organisational contexts.

The convening also addressed the increasingly important issue of digital security and safe online engagement. Participants strengthened their understanding of digital risks and explored practical approaches to secure communication, account protection, social media safety and responding to online harassment and technology-facilitated violence.

Designed as an integral part of the mentorship process rather than a standalone training activity, the convening also provided dedicated opportunities for mentors and mentees to exchange lessons learned, reflect on challenges and strengthen connections across governorates.

As the programme moves towards its final phase and closing workshop, the mid-point convening has helped participants build on the progress already made while identifying concrete actions to take forward through their continued mentorship and peer-learning journeys.

The Professional Mentorship and Peer Learning Programme for Women’s Networks in Southern Yemen is implemented under ParticiLogue and supports women leaders to strengthen their skills, networks and collective capacity for engagement and influence.