The African Union Commission’s Mediation and Dialogue Division (MDD) and ACCORD hosted a capacity-building training session for Chadian women mediators on conflict prevention and response to violent extremism from 14 – 16 April 2026, in N’Djamena. The event concluded with an official launch of the FemWise-Chad National Chapter on 17 April 2026.
The training that was aimed at strengthening the role of women in conflict prevention and response to violent extremism at the local level, brought together local women mediators from all 23 provinces of Chad. They were joined by government officials, representatives from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD), civil society organisations, as well as religious and traditional leaders, highlighting the national and continental commitment to advancing women’s roles in peace and security.
The three-day training covered conflict dynamics, the drivers of violent extremism, and practical mediation techniques. Participants mapped recurring conflicts across their provinces, ranging from agricultural and family disputes to electoral tensions and the growing threat of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin. Discussions examined structural and social factors driving these conflicts, such as poverty, limited access to education, and governance failures.
Mediation simulations allowed participants to apply learnt tools to support early warning, negotiation, and resolution to real-world scenarios from their own contexts.
During the official launch of the FemWise-Chad National Chapter, the Minister of Women and Early Childhood Development, H.E. Minister Kitoko Gata Ngoulou officially announced the launch of the FemWise-Chad Chapter. The chapter will provide a structured, sustainable platform for identifying, training, and deploying women mediators across Chad.
At the close of the event, participants developed concrete action plans and a collective goal to build networks and take active roles in early warning and conflict prevention for their communities.
ACCORD will remain engaged with the AU and partners to continue its support to Femwise and its local chapters.
