The Southern African Development Community (SADC) in collaboration with ACCORD, organised a training programme on Conflict Management and Role of Women in Mediation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The training took place from 18 – 22 August 2025, in Kinshasa, and aimed to strengthen the capacity of DRC women in areas of mediation and conflict prevention.
Participants developed practical skills in conflict analysis, peacebuilding, negotiation, and mediation techniques, relevant to the DRC context. The simulation exercises enabled participants to understand the process of mediation and how it can be undertaken.
In addition to the training, time was dedicated to the establishment of a National Chapter of the Network of Women Mediators in the DRC. In doing so, SADC made participants aware of the SADC Guidelines to Operationalise the Network of Women Mediators in Southern Africa. This document serves as a guiding tool for mediation efforts for network members at the regional and national levels. FemWise-Africa representatives also shared knowledge on continental efforts to establish national chapters as an expedited response to conflict mitigation and conflict prevention.
The training concluded with participants developing action plans and a structure to commence the process of a national chapter. Ongoing discussions will take place towards a viable network that can address the conflict situations in the DRC. ACCORD and SADC will remain engaged to support the process in the DRC and other member states to establish national women mediator networks.
