Background

The protracted conflict in Syria has created a significant data deficit and perpetuated the marginalization of women from peace and security platforms. In response to this, the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI) has been working with local researchers in Syria on the Supporting Arab Women at the Table (SAWT)[1] project in order to explore local women-led peacebuilding initiatives, their representation at high level peace discussions, as well as the alternative forms of political engagement and participation that have emerged in the past years.  

Research teams in Syria have conducted participatory action research using feminist methodologies to develop actionable recommendations and amplify local experiences, demonstrating the dire need for such approaches.

We propose hosting an hour-and-a-half webinar as a side event during the Syria Conference in Brussels. The webinar's objective is to emphasize the critical role of financial support for gender-sensitive research in Syria. The event will focus on the unique challenges confronted by women in conflict-affected areas and underscore the importance of integrating a gender perspective into research endeavors. By convening stakeholders at the conference, this webinar aims to foster dialogue and collaboration, with the ultimate goal of making the case for sustainable funding for gender-sensitive research initiatives in Syria.

Webinar Overview

Objectives

The suggested webinar is designed to achieve the following objectives:

• Raise awareness among conference participants about the significance of gender-sensitive research in Syria and its impact on understanding and addressing gender inequalities.

• Discuss the specific challenges and barriers faced in financing gender-sensitive research projects within the Syrian context.
• Explore the role of technology and innovation in advancing gender-sensitive research in Syria.
• Examine pathways for translating gender-sensitive research findings into evidence-based policies and programs.
• Discuss strategies and provide recommendations for sustainable financing of gender-sensitive research projects, including various funding models and partnerships.

Format, Speakers and Target Audience

The format will follow a 1.5-hour moderated webinar delivered in Arabic, with simultaneous Arabic/English translation with 3 speakers and a moderator. 

The suggested speakers are as follows:   

1. Fatma Ibrahim is a PhD researcher in Feminist Political Economy and an Associate Fellow at the British Higher Education Academy. She holds a master’s degree in social Innovation and a postgraduate degree in Research. She has 7 years of work experience in academic research and has undertaken 5 years of teaching and supervising with a record of academic publications. She is an expert educator on topics related to research practices, research methods, research ethics, principles of feminist methodologies, gender studies, and forced displacement.

2. Hiba Ezzideen is a Syrian feminist and researcher. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Equity and Empowerment, a non-governmental, non-profit feminist organization operating primarily in Syria and in neighboring countries for gender equality and equal participation of women in all aspects.
3. A representative from an innovative Syrian research consultancy firm, with solid publications track record (Exact name and entity TBC)

The webinar is targeted at a general audience of conference participants, including policymakers, representatives of international and local non-governmental and wider civil society / community-based organizations, researchers, academics, and activists with an interest in supporting gender-sensitive research and promoting gender equality in Syria.

Structure

The structure will include the following breakdown:

1. Opening Remarks: Overview of the webinar's objectives and agenda.
2. Contextualizing Gender-Sensitive Research in Syria: A brief overview of the situation in Syria, emphasizing the specific challenges faced by women in conflict-affected areas; the significance of integrating a gender perspective in research efforts to effectively address gender inequalities.
3. Leveraging Technology and Innovation in Gender-Sensitive Research: The role of technology and innovation in advancing gender-sensitive research in Syria; the potential of digital tools, data analytics, and remote research methodologies in collecting and

[1] SAWT is funded by the European Union (EU), led by the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI) and managed through the following country partners: Together We Build It (TWBI) in Libya, The Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies in Yemen, The Iraqi Al-Amal Association (IAA) in Iraq, ARI for Syria, The Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) in Palestine and the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut.