Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda Training Course

Introduction

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, formally established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), represents a groundbreaking shift in understanding global peace and security. It recognizes that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of conflict prevention, resolution, peacebuilding, and post-conflict recovery. This 5-day training course on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda offers a comprehensive exploration of the WPS framework, its foundational pillars of participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery, and its practical implications for policy and programming in diverse contexts. Participants will gain a deep appreciation for the transformative potential of integrating gender perspectives into peace and security efforts, leading to more inclusive, equitable, and durable peace.

This intensive program is designed for policymakers, military and police personnel, humanitarian and development practitioners, peacebuilders, human rights advocates, and civil society actors engaged in conflict-affected regions. It will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to analyze the gendered impacts of conflict, identify barriers to women's participation, and develop strategies to promote women's leadership and protection. By fostering a nuanced understanding of the WPS agenda, this course aims to empower participants to become agents of change, contributing to the realization of a world where women's voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their contributions are fully recognized in shaping peace and security outcomes.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience:

  • Government officials (Foreign Ministries, Defense, Interior, Gender Ministries)
  • Military and Police personnel deploying to or serving in peacekeeping missions
  • UN agency staff (UN Women, DPPA, UNDP, DPO, OCHA, etc.)
  • Humanitarian and development professionals
  • Peacebuilding practitioners and mediators
  • Civil Society Organizations focusing on women's rights and peace
  • Human Rights advocates and monitors
  • Researchers and academics in gender, peace, and security studies

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Articulate the core principles and pillars of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda.
  • Understand the historical evolution and legal basis of the WPS agenda, including UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions.
  • Analyze the differential impacts of armed conflict on women, girls, men, and boys.
  • Identify strategies for promoting women's meaningful participation in peace processes, security sectors, and governance.
  • Develop effective approaches for protecting women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of GBV.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda

  • Defining the WPS Agenda: beyond resolution 1325.
  • Historical context and evolution of the WPS agenda: from grassroots activism to UN policy.
  • The four pillars of the WPS agenda: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Relief and Recovery.
  • The importance of gender analysis in conflict and peacebuilding.
  • Key international actors and mechanisms for WPS implementation.

Module 2: Participation: Women as Agents of Peace

  • The imperative of women's equal and meaningful participation in peace and security decision-making.
  • Women's roles in conflict prevention, mediation, and peace negotiations.
  • Challenges and barriers to women's participation in formal peace processes.
  • Strategies for increasing women's representation in security sectors (military, police, justice).
  • The role of women civil society organizations in peacebuilding.

Module 3: Protection: Safeguarding Women and Girls in Conflict

  • Understanding conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in conflict.
  • International legal frameworks for protection: IHL, IHRL, ICL.
  • Prevention and response strategies for CRSV and GBV.
  • Protection of women and girls in humanitarian settings and displacement.
  • Accountability for perpetrators of GBV and access to justice for survivors.

Module 4: Prevention: Addressing Root Causes and Gendered Drivers of Conflict

  • Integrating a gender perspective into early warning systems and conflict analysis.
  • Understanding how gender inequality can be a driver of conflict.
  • The role of women in conflict prevention at community and national levels.
  • Addressing small arms proliferation and disarmament from a gender perspective.
  • Gender-responsive budgeting for peace and security.

Module 5: Relief and Recovery: Post-Conflict Needs and Empowerment

  • Ensuring women's specific needs are met in humanitarian response and post-conflict recovery.
  • Women's economic empowerment and livelihoods in recovery processes.
  • Addressing land and property rights for women in post-conflict settings.
  • Reintegration of women associated with armed forces and groups.
  • The role of gender-responsive disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR).

Module 6: Implementation of the WPS Agenda: National and Regional Action Plans

  • Developing National Action Plans (NAPs) on WPS: process, content, and challenges.
  • The role of regional organizations (e.g., African Union, ECOWAS) in implementing WPS.
  • Integrating WPS into national laws, policies, and defense/security sector reforms.
  • Monitoring and evaluating WPS implementation: indicators and data collection.
  • Funding and resource allocation for WPS initiatives.

Module 7: Gender Mainstreaming and Practical Application in Missions

  • Mainstreaming gender across all mission components: military, police, civilian.
  • The role of Gender Advisors and Gender Focal Points in peace operations.
  • Gender-sensitive conflict analysis and reporting in mission contexts.
  • Integrating WPS into mission planning, training, and operational activities.
  • Addressing sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by peacekeepers from a WPS perspective.

Module 8: Challenges, Emerging Issues, and the Future of WPS

  • Backlash against women's rights and shrinking civic space.
  • The impact of new technologies and climate change on WPS.
  • Intersectionality: addressing diverse identities and experiences within the WPS framework.
  • Sustaining political will and ensuring accountability for WPS commitments.
  • The future of the WPS agenda: opportunities for deeper impact and transformation.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

Women, Peace, And Security (wps) Agenda Training Course in Kenya
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