CFAs: Dialogue Academy for Young Women 2024 (Serbia)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia have actively supported the OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women (DA) gathering participants from their two respective areas of responsibility. Every year, 24 young women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade are selected to convene for an intensive ten-day programme to learn and discuss on the topics of women in politics, dialogue and peacebuilding. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with distinguished speakers and internationally recognized experts, who motivate and foster participants’ personal and professional development through thought-provoking discussions and experience-sharing sessions. To date, nine editions of DA have been successfully implemented, with more than 200 young women participated.

Upon completion of the DA, participants become part of the DA Network of Alumnae (DANA).This network is actively engaged in organizing a range of activities across both societies with the objective to promote peace, confidence-building, solidarity, women’s empowerment and dialogue. Since 2015, Alumnae have successfully implemented more than 20 small-scale projects, participated in Alumnae exchange meetings, and contributed to different events in close co-operation with the OSCE.

Structure and Themes

• The 2024 DA will entail 10 days of intensive programme in Gorizia/Nova Gorica (Italy/Slovenia). Participants will gather new knowledge and skills, and explore opportunities for collaborating on areas such as dialogue, mediation, conflict resolution and women’s empowerment. This will be achieved through an intensive learning module on “Dialogue, Mediation and Confidence-building”, a series of panel discussions, multiple and diverse networking and cultural activities. The 2024 DA also aims to offer participants a rich cultural programme connected to the key programmatic themes, such as:
  • Leadership for societal change;
  • Inter-community dialogue;
  • Women in the contemporary political landscape;
  • Women and youth in peace-building;
  • Comprehensive approach to security for building inclusive societies and lasting peace.

Cost Covered

• All expenses related to participation in the 2024 DA will be covered by the OSCE, including:
  • Travel to and from Gorizia/Nova Gorica (Italy/Slovenia). Importantly, the travel will entail overnights in Belgrade for the young women from the OSCE Mission in Kosovo area of responsibility on 11 and 21 October 2024).
  • Health insurance;
  • Accommodation;
  • Course module costs;
  • Meals and refreshments;
  • Cultural/study visits.

Eligibility Criteria

• They invite women between 20 and 27 years of age from the areas covered by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia to apply.
• Applicants should be students or young professionals in the fields of politics, law, international relations, social sciences, government, and media.
• Candidates should demonstrate genuine interest and/or engagement in civic activity (politics, voluntarism, community work, advocacy, and/or policy-making).
• Considering that lectures, discussions and all working materials will be in English, excellent English skills are essential for participation in the DA.
• The OSCE highly value and proactively promote inclusivity, hence young women with disabilities as well as young women belonging to minority groups are highly encouraged to apply.
• Participants are expected to be present and actively engaged in all aspects of the programme. Discussions and sharing of opinions will be encouraged and highly valued, with respect of each other’s differences in thought and background. Significant attention in the programme will be dedicated to networking activities and relationship-building between participants, for which participants are expected to be fully engaged.
• Only the participants who will attend for the entire duration of the DA will obtain a Certificate of Completion to become DANA member.

For more information, visit OSCE.