The Women, Peace and Security Civil Society Leadership Award 2021 Call for Nominations: Women Peacebuilders

Apr 15, 2021 | Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada is issuing a call for nominations for Canada’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Civil Society Leadership Award.

This award is part of a new annual WPS Awards Program announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on October 30, 2020. The program also includes a research award led by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), which administers a separate call for applications (contact info below).

The Civil Society Leadership Award recognizes work by individuals, organizations and networks active at the grassroots level that have made outstanding contributions to advancing the WPS agenda in a fragile or conflict-affected state or region, or in Canada. This new initiative is part of Canada’s efforts to advance the WPS agenda as outlined in Canada’s National Action Plan on WPS.

Two winners will be selected each year, one from a fragile or conflict-affected state or region, and one from Canada. A Canadian laureate will be selected to demonstrate Canada’s desire to advance the WPS agenda within our own borders.

Selection Criteria: The aim is to recognize the important role that civil society plays in advancing WPS. Candidates who fulfill the following seven criteria are eligible:

1. Entity: Individuals, civil society organizations and networks are eligible. Organizations and networks do not need to be legally incorporated to be eligible. Unless otherwise specified, candidates can be of any gender.
2. Geographical scope: Nominees from fragile or conflict-affected states or regions are actively advancing the WPS agenda in a fragile or conflict-affected state or region. Nominees from Canada are actively advancing the WPS agenda in Canada.
3. Achievement: The nominee has made an outstanding contribution to advancing WPS as laid out in Canada’s second National Action Plan on WPS. What defines “outstanding” is contextual, but, as a minimum, nominations must demonstrate tangible results that can have a lasting impact.
4. Leadership: The candidate has demonstrated leadership through concrete action, for example through collaboration, mobilizing others, taking initiative, being innovative, or inspiring others through courage and commitment.
5. Grassroots: The candidate is active at the grassroots (community or local) level. An example is an actor who works with members of local communities in an inclusive and participatory manner. An actor who is active at the grassroots level, but whose achievement is expressed at the national, regional or international level, is also eligible.
6. Diversity: Preference may be given to candidates who face challenges to participation in peace and security efforts and decision-making processes due to race, colour, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, national or ethnic origin, religion, mental or physical disability, and the intersection of these or other identity factors.
7. Indigenous Teachings: Indigenous peoples have lived – and continue to live – in the land we now call Canada since long before the Europeans arrived. In recognition of their knowledge and values, the decisions of the selection committee will also be informed by the Indigenous teachings put forward by Indigenous members of the committee. For example, this could include the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings (bravery, honesty, humility, love, respect, truth, and wisdom).

Each year, additional selection criteria may be established based on that year’s theme.

Eligible candidates 2021: Women peacebuilders who fulfill the above criteria and have made an outstanding contribution to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding, and who through their actions are an inspiration and example for future women peacebuilders. For the purpose of this call, women peacebuilders include: mediators; negotiators; peace and human rights activists; Indigenous, community, social and youth leaders; and other women contributing to prevent and resolve conflict and build peace. This can include efforts that advance reconciliation, address racism and violence, or in other ways improve stability and security in societies and communities.

Deadline: The deadline for nominations is 15 April 2021.

Submission procedure: To nominate individuals, organizations or networks, please fill out and submit the nomination form to WPS-FPS@international.gc.ca. Self-nominations are not accepted, and an organization or network cannot be nominated by one of its members. Submissions can be made in English or French. Please ensure that the nominee has agreed to being nominated.

The award recipients will be honoured at a dedicated awards event that will, travel permitted, take place in Ottawa in late spring 2021 with ministerial participation. The work of laureates will be showcased, and, if possible, additional meetings organized to provide laureates with further opportunities for recognition, professional exchanges and networking. Should an in-person meeting not be possible, a virtual event will be organized.

The Women, Peace and Security Civil Society Leadership Award Nomination Form 2021

E-mail/phone/WhatsApp:

For information about the WPS Research Award, please contact IDRC at gj@idrc.ca