Gender, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325) Implementation Course

Course Introduction

The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, anchored in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, represents a landmark global framework recognizing the essential role of women in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post-conflict recovery. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions, focusing on practical implementation at national and local levels.

Despite global commitments, implementation gaps persist due to weak institutional frameworks, limited funding, inadequate gender mainstreaming in security sectors, and persistent exclusion of women from peace processes. This course critically examines these gaps and equips participants with actionable strategies to strengthen implementation.

Participants will explore the intersection of gender, conflict, and security, including how armed conflict disproportionately affects women and girls while also recognizing their roles as agents of peace, resilience, and recovery in conflict-affected settings.

The course emphasizes policy translation into practice, focusing on national action plans (NAPs), institutional coordination mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation systems that support effective implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related frameworks.

Special attention is given to emerging issues such as sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, climate-related insecurity, forced displacement, terrorism, and the role of women in countering violent extremism and sustaining peace.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to design, implement, and evaluate gender-responsive peace and security programs that align with international frameworks and contribute to sustainable peacebuilding outcomes.

Duration

10 days

Who Should Attend

• Government officials in peace, security, and defense sectors
• Military and police gender focal persons
• UN agency staff and peacekeeping personnel
• Civil society peacebuilding and human rights practitioners
• Gender equality and women empowerment advocates
• Policy makers and public administration officials
• Conflict resolution and mediation specialists
• Humanitarian and emergency response workers
• Researchers and academics in peace and security studies
• International development and donor agency staff
• Local government and community leaders in conflict-prone areas
• Youth leaders engaged in peacebuilding initiatives

Course Objectives

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of UNSCR 1325 and the broader Women, Peace and Security agenda, including its principles, pillars, and global policy frameworks.
• Strengthen capacity to design and implement National Action Plans (NAPs) for UNSCR 1325 at national and sub-national levels effectively and sustainably.
• Enhance understanding of gender dynamics in conflict, including the differentiated impacts of armed conflict on women, men, girls, and boys.
• Build skills to integrate gender perspectives into peacekeeping, security sector reform, and conflict prevention strategies.
• Strengthen capacity to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence through effective policies and programs.
• Equip participants with tools for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on Women, Peace and Security commitments and indicators.
• Enhance knowledge of women’s roles in peace negotiations, mediation processes, and post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
• Strengthen institutional coordination mechanisms for effective implementation of gender and security policies.
• Build capacity to integrate WPS principles into humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction frameworks.
• Strengthen advocacy skills for promoting gender-responsive peace and security policies at national and international levels.
• Equip participants with knowledge on financing mechanisms and resource mobilization for WPS implementation.
• Promote inclusive leadership and accountability in peace and security institutions.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Women, Peace and Security Agenda

• Understanding UNSCR 1325 and its historical evolution in global peace and security frameworks.
• Exploring the four pillars: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery.
• Analyzing global commitments and institutional frameworks supporting WPS implementation.
• Examining key actors and stakeholders in the WPS agenda at global and national levels.

Module 2: Gender, Conflict and Security Dynamics

• Understanding gendered impacts of armed conflict on women, men, girls, and boys.
• Exploring intersectionality in conflict-affected and fragile environments.
• Analyzing structural causes of gender inequality in conflict situations.
• Examining resilience and coping mechanisms in conflict-affected communities.

Module 3: National Action Plans (NAPs) Development

• Designing inclusive and context-specific National Action Plans for UNSCR 1325 implementation.
• Strengthening coordination mechanisms for multi-sectoral WPS implementation.
• Integrating monitoring and evaluation frameworks into NAPs.
• Ensuring stakeholder participation in NAP development processes.

Module 4: Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector

• Integrating gender perspectives into military and police institutions.
• Strengthening gender training within security sector reform programs.
• Enhancing recruitment and retention of women in security institutions.
• Promoting gender-responsive security policies and operations.

Module 5: Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

• Understanding forms and patterns of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.
• Strengthening prevention, protection, and response mechanisms.
• Supporting survivors through legal, medical, and psychosocial services.
• Enhancing accountability and justice mechanisms for perpetrators.

Module 6: Women in Peace Processes and Mediation

• Strengthening women’s participation in peace negotiations and mediation.
• Identifying barriers to women’s inclusion in formal peace processes.
• Building negotiation and mediation skills for women peacebuilders.
• Promoting inclusive peace agreements and post-conflict governance.

Module 7: Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Recovery

• Designing gender-responsive post-conflict recovery programs.
• Strengthening community reconciliation and social cohesion initiatives.
• Supporting livelihoods and economic empowerment in post-conflict settings.
• Integrating women’s leadership in reconstruction efforts.

Module 8: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Developing indicators for tracking UNSCR 1325 implementation progress.
• Strengthening data collection systems for gender and security analysis.
• Enhancing reporting mechanisms for WPS commitments.
• Using evidence-based approaches for policy improvement.

Module 9: Humanitarian Action and Crisis Response

• Integrating gender equality in humanitarian response frameworks.
• Strengthening protection mechanisms for displaced women and girls.
• Enhancing coordination between humanitarian and peacebuilding actors.
• Addressing gender-based vulnerabilities in emergency settings.

Module 10: Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization

• Understanding gender dimensions of violent extremism and radicalization.
• Strengthening women’s roles in preventing violent extremism.
• Designing community-based prevention strategies.
• Enhancing resilience in at-risk communities.

Module 11: Climate Change, Conflict and Gender

• Exploring links between climate change, resource scarcity, and conflict.
• Understanding gendered impacts of climate-related insecurity.
• Strengthening adaptation and resilience strategies for women.
• Integrating climate security into peacebuilding frameworks.

Module 12: Financing Women, Peace and Security

• Understanding funding mechanisms for WPS implementation.
• Strengthening budget allocation for gender-responsive peacebuilding.
• Enhancing donor coordination and resource mobilization.
• Ensuring financial accountability and transparency.

Module 13: Legal and Policy Frameworks

• Analyzing international legal instruments supporting WPS agenda.
• Strengthening national policy alignment with UNSCR 1325.
• Promoting gender-responsive legal reforms in security sectors.
• Enhancing enforcement of gender equality laws.

Module 14: Leadership and Institutional Change

• Strengthening leadership for gender equality in peace and security institutions.
• Promoting organizational culture change for inclusion.
• Enhancing accountability mechanisms within institutions.
• Building transformative leadership capacities.

Module 15: Community Engagement and Localization

• Strengthening grassroots participation in peacebuilding processes.
• Engaging traditional and community leaders in WPS implementation.
• Supporting local women peace networks and organizations.
• Promoting community ownership of peace initiatives.

Module 16: Future of Women, Peace and Security

• Exploring emerging trends in global peace and security architecture.
• Strengthening digital tools for WPS implementation and advocacy.
• Addressing future risks and security challenges for women.
• Building sustainable pathways for inclusive peace and security systems.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.