Carol Bellamy Leadership Award

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About the award

Carol Bellamy Leadership Award

The Carol Bellamy Leadership Award (CBLA) honours the legacy of former GCERF Chair of the Governing Board, Carol Bellamy, by supporting women leaders and women-led organisations working to prevent violent extremism and terrorism. Each award provides USD 2,000 to fund locally driven projects.

CBLA was piloted in Tunisia in 2022. Ten women from Tunisia received USD 2,000 each along with training and mentorship to improve their businesses. In 2024, the second edition of the award was launched with an expanded scope to include eligible women from all GCERF-eligible partner countries. 

In 2025, the CBLA reached its largest scale yet – recognising 19 women or women-led organisations across 19 countries, with support from Germany, and open exclusively to individuals and organisations not currently funded by GCERF.

A defining feature of the 2025 edition was the Torchbearer model. Torchbearers – primarily GCERF partner organisations led by women – identify, mentor, and monitor awardees in their respective countries.

CBLA in 2025

Local Impact

Awardees
0
Torchbearer visits to provide technical support
0 +
Women and girls directly benefited through the award
0
Women and girls reached indirectly
0
Community members reached indirectly through the award
0
Boys and men directly benefited through the award
0
Award Editions

A Growing Legacy

2026 Edition
CBLA 2026
The 2026 edition builds on the Torchbearer model introduced in 2025, with 25 GCERF partner organisations led by women identified to mentor and support awardees across their countries.
25
Torchbearers
25
Countries
Torchbearers
AL
Terre des Hommes Albania
Albania
Torchbearer
BD
Anagrasar Samaj Unnayan Songstha (ASUS)
Bangladesh
Torchbearer
BA
Atlantic Initiative
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Torchbearer
BF
CRIGED
Burkina Faso
Torchbearer
TD
ATPDH
Chad
Torchbearer
GH
Norsaac
Ghana
Torchbearer
ID
Libu Perempuan
Indonesia
Torchbearer
IQ
Human Line Foundation (HLF)
Iraq
Torchbearer
KE
Rights Organization for Advocacy and Development (ROAD)
Kenya
Torchbearer
XK
Community Development Fund (CDF)
Kosovo
Torchbearer
KG
Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI)
Kyrgyzstan
Torchbearer
ML
Femmes et Développement (FEDE)
Mali
Torchbearer
MR
Association des Femmes Volontaires pour le Développement (AFVD)
Mauritania
Torchbearer
MZ
ActionAid Mozambique (AAMoz)
Mozambique
Torchbearer
NE
MOJEDEC
Niger
Torchbearer
NG
Murna Foundation
Nigeria
Torchbearer
MK
Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC)
North Macedonia
Torchbearer
PH
Gagandilan Mindanao Women Inc
Philippines
Torchbearer
SY
Salam for Hope
Syria
Torchbearer
LK
Islamic Women's Association for Research and Empowerment (IWARE)
Sri Lanka
Torchbearer
SO
Elman Peace Centre (EPC)
Somalia
Torchbearer
TN
IFRIKYA Center for Common Ground (ICCG)
Tunisia
Torchbearer
YE
Resonate! Yemen
Yemen
Torchbearer
UZ
NGO BarqarorHayot
Uzbekistan
Torchbearer
2025 Edition
CBLA 2025
In 2025, the CBLA recognised 19 women or women-led organisations across 19 countries, with support from Germany. The Torchbearer model was introduced, with Torchbearers conducting more than 100 visits.
19
Awardees
19
Torchbearers
19
Countries
100+
TB visits
Awardees
Focus Area
Leadership training and mentorship with experienced women leaders; networking with local decision-makers
AL
Ms. Ines Leskaj
Albanian Women Empowerment Network (AWEN)
Albania
Awardee
Focus Area
Strengthen youth capacity to critically assess and resist extremist narratives; promote community resilience and dialogue
BA
Ms. Izolda Osmanagić
NGO Lan
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Awardee
Focus Area
Strengthen economic resilience of women; raise awareness on GBV; foster community solidarity to reduce social tensions
BF
Ms. Ruth Myriam Bagbila
Individual
Burkina Faso
Awardee
Focus Area
Enhance economic and social participation of women; strengthen organisational capacity; raise awareness on human rights and the fight against violent extremism
TD
Ms. Mamadjim Delphine
Groupement Dianmadjh de Boutal-Bagar
Chad
Awardee
Focus Area
Promote economic empowerment for women; strengthen women's agency in peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism
GH
Ms. Bridget Akasise
Sirigu Women's Organization for Pottery and Art (SWOPA)
Ghana
Awardee
Focus Area
Empower women to become influential, balanced, and conscious leaders who drive community stability and resist violent extremism
IQ
Ms. Lobna Isam Bakr
Individual
Iraq
Awardee
Focus Area
Promote interethnic and interfaith dialogue; provide training in business development and financial literacy; amplify Women, Peace, and Security advocacy
KE
Ms. Nasin Dakane Abdi
Pastoralist Women Agency for Sustainable Development (PAWA)
Kenya
Awardee
Focus Area
Enhance digital storytelling capacity; counter misinformation; challenge extremist ideologies and amplify rights-based perspectives
XK
Ms. Leonida Molliqaj
QIKA – Center for Information, Critique, and Action
Kosovo
Awardee
Focus Area
Provide support for programmes addressing women's physical and mental health; increase awareness and understanding of women's health rights
KG
Ms. Zuhra Ahmedova
Mother-Child Health Center
Kyrgyzstan
Awardee
Focus Area
Promote economic empowerment of internally displaced women; reduce vulnerability to violent extremism through sustainable socio-economic alternatives
ML
Ms. Saada Mahamoud Arby
Association Double Victime (ADV)
Mali
Awardee
Focus Area
Raise awareness on the rights of women and girls in rural areas; strengthen economic empowerment of women and girls
MR
Ms. Oumar Ahmed
ONG Réseau de la Petite Enfance de l'Assaba (RPEA)
Mauritania
Awardee
Focus Area
Support the social and economic integration of women affected by conflict
MZ
Ms. Alberntina Armando
Association of Women United for Peace and Development (AMUPD)
Mozambique
Awardee
Focus Area
Strengthen economic and social resilience of women; foster community resilience through awareness campaigns and personal development training
NE
Ms. Halimatou Boubacar
Groupement Bafouney
Niger
Awardee
Focus Area
Prevent violent extremism through inclusive community-based initiatives promoting dialogue, peace education, tolerance, and women's empowerment
NG
Ms. Hannatu Ahuwan
Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW)
Nigeria
Awardee
Focus Area
Promote women's leadership and integrate a gender perspective in preventing violent extremism and fostering community resilience
MK
Ms. Zhaklina Prosaroska
Individual
North Macedonia
Awardee
Focus Area
Deliver leadership training to empower effective PVE advocates; provide startup capital and comprehensive business management training
PH
Ms. Noraina Dumato
Nouronnissa'a Indigenous Farmers Integrated Association (NIFIA)
Philippines
Awardee
Focus Area
Organise interactive dialogue convenings for young women; facilitate knowledge-sharing to foster women's leadership in PVE
SO
Ms. Sabrien Yabarow
YEEP Somalia
Somalia
Awardee
Focus Area
Strengthen female leadership in education; support children and teachers in building communication and technology capacities
TN
Ms. Moufida Fatnassi
Individual
Tunisia
Awardee
Focus Area
Foster peace in marginalised communities through social justice and equality; raise awareness about violent extremism and build long-term resilience
YE
Ms. Rassenah Yasseen Abdullah
Social Services Association
Yemen
Awardee
Torchbearers
AL
Counseling Line for Women and Girls (CLWG)
Albania
Torchbearer
BA
The Atlantic Initiative
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Torchbearer
BF
KEEOGO
Burkina Faso
Torchbearer
TD
ATPDH
Chad
Torchbearer
GH
STAR Ghana
Ghana
Torchbearer
IQ
Ashour Iraqi Foundation for Relief and Development (ARD)
Iraq
Torchbearer
KE
Regional Pastoralists Peace Link (RPPL)
Kenya
Torchbearer
XK
Community Development Fund (CDF)
Kosovo
Torchbearer
KG
Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI)
Kyrgyzstan
Torchbearer
ML
Femmes et Developpement (FEDE)
Mali
Torchbearer
MR
Association des femmes volontaires du développement (AFVD)
Mauritania
Torchbearer
MZ
Action Aid Mozambique (AAMoZ)
Mozambique
Torchbearer
NE
GeoA Center
Niger
Torchbearer
NG
Global Peace Development (GPD)
Nigeria
Torchbearer
MK
Pleiades
North Macedonia
Torchbearer
PH
Mahintana Foundation
Philippines
Torchbearer
SO
Elman Peace Centre
Somalia
Torchbearer
TN
Ifrikya Center for Common Ground (ICCG)
Tunisia
Torchbearer
YE
Deem for Development
Yemen
Torchbearer
2024 Edition
CBLA 2024
The 2024 edition continued to expand the award's reach, recognising women leaders and organisations across multiple countries working at the frontlines of violent extremism prevention.
10
Awardees
8
Countries
Awardees
Focus Area
Enhance the knowledge on P/CVE among women and girls in the community and enable them to develop positive messages
BD
ASUS
Bangladesh
Awardee
Focus Area
Bring women leaders together, empower them with the necessary skills to organise P/CVE projects and become advocates
XK
Assist Kosovo Center
Kosovo
Awardee
Focus Area
Strengthening resilience of women smallholder farmers to climate crises in Nigeria
NG
The Emergency & Risk Alert Initiative
Nigeria
Awardee
Focus Area
Identify and support women from communities vulnerable to violent extremism to run their existing initiatives
NG
Global Peace Development
Nigeria
Awardee
Focus Area
Encourage women from cooperatives in the area to set up shared savings systems
ML
Gneleni Ton
Mali
Awardee
Focus Area
Building the capacity of women so that they might play a more active role in shaping community responses to violent extremism
SO
Integrated Development Focus
Somalia
Awardee
Focus Area
Training war-affected and socially vulnerable women to identify and prevent extremism within their families
XK
Medica Kosova
Kosovo
Awardee
Focus Area
Strengthening the economic autonomy of 100 women through workshops and monitoring
NG
Murna Foundation
Nigeria
Awardee
Focus Area
Support women's role in PVE within their villages by training a pool of women PVE influencers
KE
Women Moving Agenda Network Kenya
Kenya
Awardee
Focus Area
Train girls with experience in photography or sound production to produce visual and audio stories
IQ
Women's Voice
Iraq
Awardee
2022 Edition — Inaugural
CBLA 2022 — Where It All Began
The inaugural Carol Bellamy Leadership Award was launched in 2022 to honour Carol Bellamy's legacy and to spotlight the critical role of women in preventing violent extremism at the community level. 10 women in Tunisia received USD 2,000 each.
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