UNAOC Young Peacebuilders in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme 2019 (fully funded)

Deadline: February 23, 2019

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) invites applications for the 2019 Young Peacebuilders in Middle East and North Africa programme. The programme supports the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address negative stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies, tackling the drivers of violent extremism.

This is a call to youth from MENA wanting to tackle violent extremism by building inclusive societies with understanding and respect among cultural and religious communities.

• Are you between 18 and 25 years old? *
• Are you a citizen of a MENA country and do you currently live in this region?
• Are you interested in taking part in an intercultural learning experience with other young people from MENA and improve your actions to promote peace?
• Are you part of a youth-led organization, network or initiative?
• Do you want to increase your ability to contribute to peace and social inclusion in your community, country and region?
• Are you in the beginning stages of your involvement in this type of work and want to learn more?

If yes, apply now for a chance to be selected for a fully funded participation to the UNAOC Young Peacebuilders in MENA 2019 programme.

During the programme, 20 selected participants will:

• Learn about negative stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence;
• Understand different perspectives in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional levels and transform conflicts peacefully;
• Identify push and pull factors creating conditions conducive to violent extremism;
• Develop competences to use different forms of media or expressive arts as a way to create alternative narratives, reduce polarization and promote social inclusion;
• Learn how to successfully design and run your project.

They will interact online through a series of facilitated modules, and in-person, during a one-week workshop. After completing the peace education curriculum, participants will act as a force multiplier of the lessons learned through the programme and actively take part in follow-up activities at the community level. At the end of the project, participants are invited for a symposium to share their experience, lessons learned, achievements and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, UN, policy makers, media and civil society, bringing visibility to their initiatives towards promotion of diversity and dialogue.

Programme components:

• Part 1: online phase (2 months). Participants access the course through an online collaborative platform provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and other trainers facilitate the first few modules of the curriculum, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other prior to their first in-person meeting. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts, engage in discussion and start reflecting on their peace actions. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week to complete the modules (some work can be completed offline).
• Part 2: face-to-face workshop (9 days). All participants travel to complete the training and experience how peacebuilding is successfully implemented through 1 or 2 local field visits. They also work on the development of their own action plan. Time commitment: one week (6 working days + 3 days for travel, arrival and departure activities).
• Part 3: applied learning (3/4 months). Implementation of a personal peace initiative: participants are guided by UNAOC’s professional trainers and stay connected with other participants through the online platform, while reporting on the implementation of their projects.
• Part 4: results sharing symposium (4 days). Participants are invited to participate in a symposium during which they share their experience, lessons learned, achievements and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, policy makers, media and the general public. They also engage with this audience on topics related to intercultural dialogue, peace and security. Time commitment: 4 days (2 day symposium + 2 days for travel, arrival and departure activities).

Benefits

All selected youth participants will be provided with:

• Round-trip travel (international or domestic flight, economy class) to the city of the face-to-face workshop as well as to the city of the symposium;
• Shared accommodation (double-rooms), with a participant from the same gender, in the city of the workshop and the city of the symposium;
• Meals and coffee breaks during the official duration of the workshop and the symposium;
• Shuttles or reimbursement of transportation to/from the airport and hotel in the city of the face-to-face workshop and city of the symposium.

Eligibility

All requirements must be met in order to be considered eligible):

1. Age: Be 18-25 years of age for the total duration of the project (May 21, 2019 – December 15, 2019). To be considered eligible, applicants must be born on or between December 16, 1993 and May 21, 2001.
2. Region: Be a citizen of one of the following MENA region countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
3. Organization: Be active (staff, volunteer, etc.) in a non-government and non-for-profit youth-led organization, network, initiative or movement (led by youth for the benefit of youth) and have the ability to consult with and reach a wider group of young people, audience or network, including at the grassroots and community level.
4. Commitment: demonstrate commitment to diversity and pluralism, nonviolence, peaceful and inclusive societies. The organizations and networks represented should: Adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the principles and values of the Charter of the United Nations; have internal democratic and transparent processes of leadership, decision-making and consultation; be independent, unaffiliated with any political party.
5. Language: Command of English is sufficient to take part in the online phase and in-person workshop. The applicant understands English very well; possesses intermediate to fluent levels of English, which allow her/him to participate to the conversation and input.
6. Prior experience: the applicant has never taken part in a programme of UNAOC (Summer School, Youth Solidarity Fund, Intercultural Innovation Award, Plural+, PeaceApp, Youth Event at the UNAOC Global Forum, Fellowship Program)
7. Passport: In order to be accepted in this programme, selected applicants must hold an international passport valid until at least June 25, 2020. Failure to provide a copy in due time will result in cancellation of participation.
8. The application is duly completed, submitted by the deadline and contains all supporting documentation, requested as part of the call. Half-complete applications or applications filled in other languages than English will not be reviewed and considered.

Selection criteria:

1. Motivation and contribution to the programme: the applicant demonstrates that she/he is highly motivated to complete all portions of the programme.
2. Interest in themes: the applicant shows some experience in issues related to intercultural dialogue, peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism through examples of initiatives he/she is part of or is demonstrating a great interest to get involved in this set of issues.
3. Experience and potential: The applicant is at the beginning stages of his/her involvement or career in the field of peacebuilding and has specific goals to improve his/her skills and to make contribution to peace.
4. Outreach: The applicant and his/her organization have the capacity and motivation to absorb and disseminate the lessons learned back to their community, organization and to a wider network or audience.
5. Future impact and follow up: the applicant expressed his/her strong commitment to conduct personal peace initiatives in their community during the implementation phase and beyond

Application

In order to be considered complete and valid, application package must include the following and be submitted through the online application system:

• An application form, completed and certified by the applicant;
• A copy of the identification page of your international passport.

Word/character limit for each question in the application form needs to be respected. The application system automatically counts words and characters.

Click here to apply.