2023 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security

The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE Area seeks to empower young professionals, in particular women, to engage in the security sector, especially the politico-military security field. The course emphasizes preventive responses to crises and conflicts as well as strengthening mediation support and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts; through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; towards confidence- and security-building in the OSCE area.

Following a record number of applications,150 young professionals, 85% of whom are female, from 48 OSCE Participating states and 9 Partners for Co-operation started a nine-week inquiry-based online course on 29 May 2023.

Learning about preventive actions of war and putting emphasis on preemptive diplomacy, mediation, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace, would be a unique and invaluable experience. I am sure that the program will contribute to my professional development in my future career in peacekeeping and human rights protection."

– Alina, Ukraine, 2023 participant

The online component concluded on 28 July, with 130 young professionals (84% female) graduating successfully. An overwhelming majority of training’s beneficiaries indicated that participation in the course increased their knowledge of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

The whole training exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed every bit of what I've learnt. I’m more than sure that this will be absolutely beneficial in my professional future! I hope this is not the end of our experience with the OSCE and I am looking forward to more new opportunities for women!" 

- Gulnar, Turkmenistan, 2023 Participant

The Programme is held in English and provides general orientation and knowledge about conflict prevention and resolution through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, with a specific focus on the OSCE-related instruments, addressing the conflict cycle in the region.

Upon completion of the training, I have two immediate plans. First, I would like to write a journal article on one of the topics covered during the training and get it published. I believe getting the topic into discourse is one of the first steps. Second, I would like to organize a series of online programs to discuss some of the topics among my network. In the long term, I would like to further build on my career in security.”

– Kamila, Afghanistan, 2023 participant

Forty-two young female professionals from 37 countries took part in a one-week course in Vienna from 6 to 10 November 2023 to learn about the work of international organizations in the field of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, which included the OSCE, CTBTO, IAEA, UNODC, UNOOSA, and others.