Historically, in many contexts around the world, conflict parties have turned to faith and traditional leaders to resolve conflicts on the ground. While faith and traditional leaders have continued to serve as arbitrators and mediators in tribal, religious, traditional, and clan-based societies, their contribution to conflict transformation, in particular, mediation, negotiation, and peacemaking, has only been recently discussed in scholarly debate. Although the relevance and effectiveness of faith-based mediation has been well researched, the role and potential of women and young women within those processes are less so. When faith-based mediation is referred to, it typically is associated with formal religious institutions mostly run by male religious leaders.

Women faith-based mediators and negotiators (WFBMs) are defined as those, ‘who are working on various tracks for ceasing violence and finding agreements in order to prevent and mitigate violence. In doing this work, their tools and methods are inspired by faith, and/or they are cooperating within or with faith-based structures and/or with faith-based actors, and/or are gaining motivation and inspiration for this work through faith.’