Manar Younis

Manar is an entrepreneur and researcher in the field of political economy. She believes in empowering women economically as an effective way to raise awareness about their political rights and involvement in the public sphere.

Manar has worked in women's economic empowerment for over 13 years. In 2018, she launched her first initiative, "Jeeda," a Palestinian e-commerce platform that sells traditional and artisan products handcrafted by Palestinian women. Alongside her entrepreneurship, Manar is also committed to enhancing women's access to decision-making positions, as she believes that representation at leadership levels is central to driving meaningful change. She has been leading efforts, together with other women from the West Bank and Gaza, to establish a network aimed at enhancing women's participation in the political sphere.

Manar believes true integration means women taking active, leading roles in conflict resolution, ensuring their perspectives are included. Her fellowship seeks to bridge the gap between skill development and meaningful participation, empowering women as key drivers of change in reconciliation initiatives. By blending theory and practice, and focusing on mediation and reconciliation, she aims to move beyond just enhancing women's skills to fully integrating them into peace-building processes.