The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security through its Gender, Peace and Security Programme (GPSP) has commissioned a comprehensive Continental Study to evaluate the 25-year implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. This critical assessment is founded on a uniquely participatory and inclusive methodology, designed to engage all key stakeholders through a structured, multi-phase process. The initiative is being undertaken in partnership with FemWise-Africa, UN Women, GIZ_AU, and the Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NeTT4Peace).

Building on a structured, inclusive approach, the African Union Commission (AUC) first engaged Regional Economic Communities (RECs), followed by Member States with National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325. Now, a pivotal new chapter is underway: a series of five regional consultations dedicated to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). These gatherings bring together a diverse range of stakeholders including CSOs, academia, youth networks, and women's groups with a clear mission: to critically assess the WPS agenda, analyze progress, address persistent gaps, and ensure these frontline perspectives directly shape Africa's future strategy.

The first three consultations have now been successfully concluded, each producing critical regional insights:

-   The West Africa consultation in Dakar (16-17 September 2025) pinpointed urgent emerging threats, including the nexus of climate change and conflict and the spread of violent extremism in the Sahel. Participants developed strategic recommendations for 2025-2030 based on this analysis.

-   The North Africa consultation in Cairo (1-2 October 2025) strategically focused on amplifying the distinct voices of North African women. The dialogue ensured their unique perspectives on regional peace and security are integrated into the continental Common Position.

-   The recent East Africa consultation in Nairobi (8-9 October 2025) highlighted the imperative to broaden the conventional peace and security framework to encompass climate-related and digital threats. A key outcome was the call to institutionalize African-led knowledge hubs focused on the WPS agenda.

This layered, consultative approach is the cornerstone of our 25th-anniversary commemoration of UNSCR 1325. We are not just reflecting on the past; we are architecting a new future for the WPS agenda. The question driving us is: what will it take to fundamentally change the game in favor of women on the ground? By synthesizing the insights from RECs, Member States, and civil society, we are building an evidence-based, practical framework designed not just to include women, but to empower them as the central architects of peace and security in Africa.

The consultations will continue across the Southern, and Central Africa regions. Initial findings from regional consultations have been presented to the Continental CSOs Forum in Windhoek on 15 October 2025, contributing to the AU's study on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Nadia Roguiai | Coordinator, Gender, Peace and Security (GPSP) Programme | Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security | African Union Commission | E-mail: NadiaR@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

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