DialogueON Women in Policy - find out what it was about!

On Friday, March 28th, 2025, DialogueON hosted a powerful and inspiring online webinar titled "Women in Policy", bringing together passionate voices committed to reshaping the future through gender equity, climate action, and inclusive policy making. The event featured two amazing guest speakers—Tamara from Kenya and Aggul from Azerbaijan—who shared their journeys, challenges, and visions for more representative policy.

Speaker Spotlight: Tamara

Tamara, an Ambassador for the Green Dimensions Network, opened the discussion with her experiences working across climate, health, and gender-based violence. She underscored how personal passion can translate into policy action.

She shared the emotional challenges of being a woman in the policy space - the burnout, the rejection and the exclusion. “The policy world is where we turn this passion into solutions,” she said, highlighting the need for persistence and courage to transform lived experiences into systemic change.

Tamara also emphasized the importance of mental health, particularly for women in advocacy. Her call to action was clear: women must advocate for what matters to them, break down barriers, and claim space in governance. She celebrated the growing inclusion of women in policy but reminded us that the work isn’t done - true representation means shaping agendas, not just attending the meetings.

Speaker Spotlight: Aggul

From Azerbaijan, Aggul brought a thoughtful lens on the intersection of gender justice and peacebuilding. A Youth Ambassador for Women Against Violence Europe and an active civil society voice, she questioned whether women’s current representation in leadership is truly meaningful - or simply symbolic.

Aggul highlighted the unique skills women bring to decision-making spaces: emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, and strategic thinking. She warned against tokenism - where women are included as a gesture rather than empowered as equal stakeholders - and called for genuine, equitable participation, especially for women of color and queer individuals. “Democracy means representing half the population,” she reminded us.

Our Audience

Audience contributions brought new perspectives to the dialogue, reinforcing the urgency and relevance of women in policy.

Peter highlighted the persistence of gender bias within communities, where cultural and institutional barriers still limit women’s participation in public and policy spaces. He called for policy reforms that address sexual violence and the disproportionate impacts of disease on women.

In response to questions about women’s underrepresentation in global forums like COP, Tamara and Aggul shared practical advice: join networks like YOUNGO, engage with local NGOs, and participate in grassroots campaigns to find your voice and community.

Daniel emphasized the vital role women play in environmental stewardship and asked how we can boost their presence in decision-making spaces. Both speakers agreed - more platforms, better access, and genuine inclusion are key.

Together, the audience reaffirmed a shared belief: real change happens when diverse voices lead the conversation.

Key Takeaways: A Call for Continued Action

The DialogueON session reminded us that representation is not enough. Participation must be meaningful. Women in policy spaces are not just contributors; they are changemakers, strategists, and essential actors in a sustainable and just future.

From climate change to conflict resolution, gender equity to mental health, women bring invaluable insights that can no longer be sidelined. As both Tamara and Aggul emphasized, advocacy is a long road filled with challenges, but it is also filled with opportunity, collaboration, and hope.

This event was not just a discussion. It was a reminder that passion becomes power when translated into policy, and that every woman, regardless of background, has a role to play in shaping the future.

~Naomi Lea

Intercultural DialogueON: More Than Just Talk—It’s About Action!

What happens when passionate people from different cultures come together to address some of the world’s biggest challenges?

Our latest Intercultural DialogueON event tackled exactly that - a powerful conversation about the role of understanding, inclusivity, and dialogue in making real change, especially in the fight against climate change.

We had two amazing speakers - Swornima Khatri and Olamide Adesina - who shared their insights on why cultural exchange isn’t just important; it’s essential. And the audience had a lot to say too!

The Power of Listening: Swornima’s Take

Swornima Khatri, co-founder of Planet Pulse Nepal, is highly experienced in breaking cultural barriers. She’s working to bring climate education into schools and push for better dialogue around sustainability.

Her key message: Listening matters just as much as speaking. She shared a valuable Nepalese saying: "We have two ears to listen more than one mouth to speak.” and reminded us about active listening. She emphasized that real change starts when we acknowledge different perspectives, share experiences, and learn from each other - instead of talking over one another.

She also pointed out something crucial: while technology connects us, it doesn’t automatically bring understanding. Miscommunication and division still happen - so how do we fix that? By actively fostering inclusivity and keeping conversations open.

Olamide’s Challenge: More Tolerance, Less Bias

Olamide, a programme manager at the Climate Emerge Innovation Development (CEID) Hub, called out something we all see but rarely address: the growing intolerance in the world.

Why is it happening? She pointed to biased media, digital echo chambers, and plain old indifference. This is leading to more cyberbullying, less understanding, and a world where people struggle to see beyond their own perspectives.

Her solution? Dialogue, education, and stepping outside our comfort zones. She emphasized that we need to actively seek out different viewpoints, integrate cultural awareness into our learning, and focus on social inclusion. Because the more we understand each other, the better equipped we are to tackle the big stuff - like climate action and global cooperation.

The Audience Speaks: Big Questions, Bigger Takeaways

The discussion didn’t stop there…Our audience also shared some comments.

💡 Intercultural dialogue isn’t just about tolerance - it’s about acceptance.

💡 We are ALL global citizens - our backgrounds might be different, but we all have something to contribute.

💡 Education is everything - breaking stereotypes and making cultural awareness a priority can lead to real change.

One participant pointed out the importance of knowledge-sharing. What works in one region could be valuable in another - and that’s why we need more global conversations like this.

Another attendee posed a question: How can intercultural dialogue be used to address global disagreements? This is one that we need to continually address, at the local, national, and international level.

So, What’s Next?

This conversation was just the beginning. Now it’s up to all of us to take action. Here’s how you can keep the momentum going:

✅ Listen more. Like Swornima said, let’s focus on active listening.

✅ Step outside your bubble. Seek out different perspectives, have conversations with people from different backgrounds, and challenge your assumptions.

✅ Speak up. Got an idea? A perspective? A solution? Share it. Because dialogue only works if we all take part.

Let’s keep this energy alive. Whether it’s climate action, cultural inclusion, or global cooperation, real change happens when we come together!

~Naomi Lea

COP29: Who was there to advance dialogue? Who was there to restrict it?

It was a month ago now… But the memories are still so much alive!

It’s been quite a challenge to complete this final step of the journey, but here we are, finally coming to you with a summary of the Open Dialogues team’s engagement at this year’s UN Climate Summit - the COP29 in Azerbaijan.

What did we do at COP29?

You have certainly already heard about our side event on 19 December, but we are especially proud of it this year! With over 30 people watching from the audience and with a diverse set of speakers representing our brilliant #ODCC2024 national teams and partners, we managed to have some true dialogue - not only among the panellists, but across the entire room! The conversation was such a fresh, empowering, and hopeful experience among all the uncertainties of a high-level political event, and a safe space for many people like us, who came to share their honest opinions and true stories of climate action at all levels! The programme ended up well balanced, logistically successful, and inspiring to many of our participants.

As we take with us the slides, the audience written and spoken contributions, and the recording of the side event, we will make sure to always keep them in our minds while preparing the next edition of the Open Dialogues on Climate Change, and any other projects we will undertake.

Throughout the 2 weeks, we also participated in the COP negotiations process, focusing on topics such as just transition, climate education and participation, and climate finance. We supported YOUNGO, the UNFCCC Youth Constituency, as well as other civil society groups in their political advocacy efforts. We made our voices heard by speaking during several side events across the different COP rooms and pavilions. We participated in an exclusive meeting of young leaders with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. We networked, we formed relationships and partnerships, we created ideas, and we shared stories. We kept the spirits high and we remained in action, against all odds. Many many thanks to everyone who was part of this journey!

It goes without saying that this COP was one of many lost hopes, as we saw so many important decisions failing to be delivered in the final days, with the Just Transition Work Programme that we closely followed leading this set, and the nearly-failed and unsatisfactory outcome on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance closely following it. Some of the events were incredibly alarming - the Azerbaijani Presidency trying to take control of the process and breaking its rules, certain delegations openly disrespecting others against collective progress, and the overall dynamic hinting at the world moving away from cooperation more than ever…

Well, at this special point in time, our mission appears more clear than ever: we must protect cooperation, we must preserve dialogue, and we must show the world how to do it. We will stay committed to do so - and we need all voices on board, including yours!

~Zuzanna Borowska