Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, The Board of Directors of the Imara Leadership Initiative Tanzania (ILI) proudly congratulates Ms. Petrider Paul, Co-Managing Director of ILI, on her remarkable appointment to serve a three-year term as a member of the African Union FemWise-Africa Network — the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation.
This prestigious appointment recognizes Ms. Paul’s longstanding dedication to advancing women’s leadership, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment across Africa. Her commitment to social justice and gender equality has continuously inspired the Imara community and beyond, positioning her as one of the continent’s emerging voices in peace and security.
About the African Union FemWise-Africa
The African Union FemWise-Africa was officially established through a decision of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 4 July 2017 (Assembly/AU/Draft/Dec.21 (XXIX)) as a subsidiary mechanism of the AU Panel of the Wise.
Its creation followed a series of key decisions by the African Union:
- The 2010 Decision of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) requesting a study on women in armed conflicts;
- The 2014 Decision of Ministers of Gender calling for the formation of a continental association of women mediators; and
- The 13 March 2017 Decision of the PSC establishing FemWise-Africa as a platform to strengthen women’s participation in peace processes.
Mandate and Vision
The African Union FemWise-Africa’s mandate is to strengthen the meaningful role of African women in conflict prevention, mediation, and peace processes across Tracks 1, 2, and 3 within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).
The Network serves as a cornerstone in realizing the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000), the Maputo Protocol (2003), and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004).
To achieve its mission, FemWise-Africa focuses on three pillars:
- Membership: Building a diverse and skilled network of women mediators across the continent.
- Deployment: Supporting the active participation of women mediators in national and regional peace processes.
- Capacity Building: Enhancing the knowledge and skills of women in early warning systems, dialogue facilitation, and mediation.
Through these pillars, the Network promotes:
- Early warning and conflict prevention initiatives;
- Dialogue and mediation facilitation among conflicting parties;
- Advocacy for peace agreement implementation; and
- Documentation and dissemination of best practices in peacebuilding.
About Imara Leadership Initiative (ILI):
Imara Leadership Initiative is dedicated to building ethical, accountable, and transformative leaders in Tanzania and across Africa by focusing on youth empowerment, leadership training, and democratic engagement, ILI plays a vital role in shaping a new generation of leaders who are prepared to address the challenges of governance and development.
For partnerships and inquiries information please contact us via Ms. Sarah Masuma | Programmes Lead E-mail: info@imaraleadership.org
