Guided by the principle that youth are key actors to achieve peace and prevent violent extremism, as stated by UN conflict
resolutions 2250 and 2419 and the United Nations Secretary General’s Plan of
Action on Preventing Violent Extremism, UNAOC develops educational
programming to enhance the ability of young civil society leaders to foster
mutual respect, understanding and long-term positive relationships between
peoples of different cultures and religions.
The Fellowship Programme aims at fostering intercultural exchange and
interfaith understanding by engaging with young civil society leaders and
professionals from Europe, North-America (EUNA), the Middle East and
North-Africa (MENA). Framed around two-week exchange trips between EUNA and
MENA countries, the Programme sends participants from each geographic area to
their counterparts’ region. The Fellowship provides participants with first
hand exposure to diversity and with the opportunity to experience cultural
immersion while interacting with a wide range of local actors and partners. In
every country visited, participants are being provided with crucial
comprehension tools to help them understand the plurality of their
surroundings, and to get an extensive grasp of host countries’ culture,
politics, society, religion, media and more.
During the programme, 24 selected participants will:
● Learn to deconstruct stereotypes and how to critically analyze them to reduce their prevalence;
● Understand different perspectives and cultural sensitivities in identity-based conflict and gain tools to develop solutions at local, national and regional level to engage in intercultural collaboration;
● Develop competencies and learn good practices to engage in intercultural dialogue with the aim to reduce polarization and promote inclusion;
● Learn how to engage in cross-cultural conversations around current global challenges.
Programme components:
PLAN A – In-person Fellowship Programme:
● Part 1: Online engagement (2 weeks). Participants from both cohorts start interacting through online collaborative modules provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and trainers facilitate the discussion, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts related to intercultural engagement and prepare for the first webinar. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week.
● Part 2: Webinar (2 hours). All participants take part in a webinar during which they exchange on intercultural dialogue, cultural sensitivities, deconstruction of stereotypes and cross-cultural collaboration.
● Part 3: Travel (2 weeks). Participants from each geographical area travel to their counterparts’ region. They interact with a wide range of local stakeholders on issues related to intercultural dialogue and the theme of the 2020 Fellowship “Building Peace in the Age of New Media”.
● Part 4: Online engagement (1 week). Participants from both cohorts interact through an online collaborative module provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and trainers facilitate the online exchange to help participants prepare for the second webinar. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week.
● Part 5: Webinar (2 hours). All participants take part in a webinar during which they debrief their experience and assess the lessons learned and how to use them.
PLAN B – All-online Fellowship Programme:
● Part 1: Online engagement (2 weeks). Participants from both cohorts start interacting through online collaborative modules provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and trainers facilitate the discussion, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts related to intercultural engagement and prepare for the first webinar. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week.
● Part 2: Virtual exposure (10 days). Participants from each geographical area interact with a wide range of local stakeholders from their counterparts’ region. Together they work on issues related to intercultural dialogue and the theme of the 2020 Fellowship “Building Peace in the Age of New Media”. They also take part in engage in virtual activities that introduce them to the cultural diversity of the destination countries.
● Part 3: Webinar (2 hours). All participants take part in a webinar on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue during which they exchange on intercultural dialogue, cultural sensitivities, deconstruction of stereotypes and cross-cultural collaboration.
● Part 4: Online workshops (4 days). All participants take part in a series of online workshops using various pedagogical methods and revolving around the theme of Intercultural and Interreligious dialogue.
● Part 5: Online concluding module (3 hours). All participants take part in a concluding module during which they debrief their experience and assess the lessons learned and how to use them.
This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for UNAOC. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.