MPS Mentoring Programme

2026 edition

The MPS Mentorship Programme is a six-month transformative journey designed to support and empower emerging leaders from under-represented and marginalised communities who are committed to advancing peace, security, and social change.

For too long, the voices and expertise of minorities, including immigrants, people of colour, refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, women, and gender minorities, have been disregarded and/or excluded from decision-making in peace and security spaces. This leads to fragile, unsustainable peace agreements and perpetuates the root causes of conflict - ending up with security frameworks that are narrow, ineffective and prone to failure. This comes with the recognition that structures of power need to be reoriented to include diverse voices and incorporate the people who are most impacted in decision-making roles.

MPS’ mission seeks to change this by creating a space of solidarity for minorities and allies working across the fields of peace and security, pushing for professional equality and representation, and championing intersectional approaches to the huge policy challenges we face today. In 2024, MPS published a chapter in Feminist Policymaking in Turbulent Time, documenting what we all know: many of us are not able to enter these fields successfully, or don't survive long enough to make it to a place of influence. And when we do, our cup is so empty that giving back and helping the next generation seems like a pipe dream.

Our mentoring programme seeks to address these imbalances in leadership by nurturing talent, building confidence, and helping to expand pathways for meaningful impact. As a pilot programme, this set of mentors and mentees would be integral to forging new ways of providing context-specific support and help shape MPS’s mentorship programme for the years ahead.Conceptualised as a mutual development experience, the programme brings together 20 mentors and mentees in thoughtfully matched partnerships, benefiting both parties involved. Through shared guidance, insight, and sustained support, participants deepen their understanding of the peace and security fields while developing their professional, leadership, or advocacy trajectories.

Programme Structure

The six-month long programme will see participants paired one-to-one with a dedicated mentor whose experience aligns with their goals and aspirations, with individually tailored mentoring taking place virtually or in person. Participants will also expand their professional networks by connecting with a diverse community of peers, mentors, and practitioners across policy, academia, civil society, activism, media, and diplomacy. Throughout the programme, participants will set clear personal goals and track their progress, refining their leadership, advocacy, and professional skills with guided support.

What You’ll Gain

Mentees will have strengthened confidence to navigate peace and security spaces
Mentors and Mentees will access a supportive network of peers and leaders
Mentees will gain a clearer insight into career pathways, professional skills, and the realities of working in the sector
Both Mentors and Mentees will deepen their understanding of equitable and inclusive approaches to peace and security.

The MPS Mentorship Programme is more than guidance; it's a launchpad for your voice, leadership, and lasting impact.

Questions? Contact Sabrine Dao at leadership@minoritiesinpeaceandsecurity.org

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How to Apply

Apply to be a Mentee

Applications open from February 27, 2026 until February 13, 2026 and are open to all who identify as a minority in peace and security.
Apply using this form

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Apply to be a Mentor

Applications open from February 27, 2026 until February 13, 2026 and are open to all who identify as a minority in peace and security.

Apply using this form