Sessions on Resilience, Leadership, and Impact

A few weeks ago, elbarlament successfully completed the final two sessions of the first phase of Peace Advocacy Training Hub (PATH), bringing together 20 women peacebuilders from Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. These concluding sessions focused on strengthening both the personal and technical capacities essential for sustainable and inclusive peacebuilding.

Session 8: Power, Risk, and Resilience in Peacebuilding

The eighth PATH session was led by Alaa Assani and centred on how women peacebuilders navigate power, risk, and resilience within complex and often challenging environments. The session explored the multiple dimensions of power and the specific risks women face in peacebuilding spaces, while also identifying practical strategies for sustaining leadership over time.

Discussions highlighted the importance of self-care, collective support, and intentional decision-making around safety and visibility. Participants reflected openly on their lived experiences, reinforcing the need for supported and resilient leadership models that enable women to continue their peace work effectively despite structural and contextual challenges.

This session reaffirmed a critical reality: while women are central to community peace efforts, they are often exposed to heightened risks. Strengthening resilience — individually and collectively — is essential to ensuring that peacebuilding initiatives can endure and evolve.

Session 9: Strengthening Peacebuilding Through Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

The ninth and final session of PATH was facilitated by Sara Shahine and focused on the role of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) in enhancing the effectiveness, accountability, and inclusivity of peacebuilding work.

Participants examined how MEL frameworks help clarify the links between activities, outputs, outcomes, and long-term impact. The session introduced tools for designing SMART and gender-responsive indicators, ensuring that project outcomes reflect the diverse experiences and needs of different community members.

A strong emphasis was placed on participatory learning approaches, demonstrating how inclusive MEL practices can strengthen project design, support continuous learning, and inform better decision-making at all levels.

Key takeaways from the session included:

• MEL helps translate peacebuilding initiatives into tangible, real-world change

• Clear, measurable indicators are essential for tracking progress and impact

• Integrating gender perspectives ensures more equitable participation and outcomes

• Participatory approaches foster inclusion, accountability, and ongoing learning

Honouring Commitment and Collective Leadership

Across both sessions, participants brought honesty, generosity, and a powerful sense of solidarity to the discussions. Their engagement underscored the importance of intentional, well-supported leadership and reaffirmed the unwavering dedication of women peacebuilders working to build safer, more inclusive communities.

elbarlament extends its sincere thanks to Alaa Assani, Sara Shahine, and all PATH participants for their insight, leadership, and commitment throughout the programme. The knowledge and connections strengthened through PATH will continue to inform and support peacebuilding efforts across the region.