This week in Moroni, as part of our project in the Comoros, funded by the European Union, we are organizing a three-day training session, which began today and brings together female mentors from the non-governmental organisation, African Women Leaders Network – Comoros Chapter (AWLN Comoros), based on our Leadership and Conflict Management Skills for Electoral Stakeholders (LEAD) methodology. This activity is part of our broader support for women’s leadership, gender equality, and their participation in public, economic, and social life in the Comoros.
The training is the first step in a broader mentoring initiative developed with AWLN Comoros, aimed at supporting the professional development of women working in public administration and the private sector. The initiative draws on the experience of women leaders to prepare them to support other women on their career paths and in achieving their professional goals.
Led by our LEAD trainer, Sylvestre Somo, the training combined leadership development with practical preparation for the participants’ future roles as mentors. ECES was represented by Hamza Fassi Fihri, project coordinator, and Kader Barry, project manager. Through our LEAD methodology, the participants worked on personal leadership, mentoring practices, sharing experiences, professional support, and developing constructive mentoring relationships.
At the end of the training, each mentor will support a woman on her career path. The matching process will take into account the career goals of each mentee, as well as the motivation and compatibility of each pair. Together, they will define their expectations and priorities; the mentoring may focus, in particular, on career advancement, taking on responsibilities, developing a professional network, or carrying out a specific career project.
The mentoring process will be supported by our project through regular virtual meetings with the mentors, providing opportunities to share experiences, track progress, and address any challenges encountered. At the end of the process, mentors and mentees will come together at a public event to share their experiences and highlight the journeys and achievements of the participating women.
By combining leadership development with long-term individual mentoring, this initiative aims to foster a sustainable mentoring dynamic among women leaders in the Comoros. Our project thus contributes to strengthening women’s leadership, their professional development, and gender equality, while promoting their increased participation in the country’s public, professional, and economic life.
03 November 2026
