By Olukayode Idowu
More than 37.8 million people in the Sahel would need assistance and protection due to security challenges, political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, the United Nations (UN) Women has said.
Possible solutions are expected to be discussed at ongoing meeting in Niamey, Niger where stakeholders would reflect on the theme: “Adapting the women, peace and security agenda to the changing context of the Sahel: rethinking and readjusting approaches”, and launch the project: “Leadership of women’s organizations for peace and security in the Sahel”. The meeting is under the aegis of the Ministry of Women’s Promotion and Child Protection and with funding from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Governments of the G5 Sahel countries, UN Women and its partners, civil society organisations, development partners and regional and international experts.
According to a statement by UN Women, the Sahel region faces numerous security challenges, compounded by political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Extremist and terrorist armed groups as well as inter-communal conflicts have negative impacts on communities, forcing millions of people to move. By 2023 more than 37.8 million Sahelians will need assistance and protection.
The statement lamented that women and girls are often the first to be affected by these crises, increasing their vulnerability and marginalization in society. Yet, they are key players in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as in the promotion of sustainable peace and development.
The statement added that: “It is within this framework that UN Women and its partners decided to organize this high-level regional meeting funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands to discuss the issues and challenges facing women and girls in the Sahel region, but also to explore solutions for their effective participation in promoting peace and development.”
The statement further read that: “Niger is a land of welcome and opportunity and the laboratory of the Nexus. We are honored and happy to receive the delegations of the sister countries of the G5 Sahel and other countries for this colloquium coupled with the launch of the regional program on capacity building of civil society organizations in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda financed by the Netherlands which we welcome”. It added that it is in these terms that Mrs. Allahoury Aminata Zourkaleini, Niger’s Minister of Women Promotion and Child Protection, denotes the satisfaction of the choice of Niger for the organisation of the three days meeting in Niamey.
She said the meeting will see the participation of government representatives, civil society organisations, development partners and regional and international experts. They will discuss themes such as strengthening the role of women in peace and security processes, the inclusion of women in the prevention of violent extremism and the reduction of inter-communal conflicts, as well as their participation in peace building and post-conflict reconstruction.
She noted that the meeting in Niamey is a unique opportunity for partners to discuss concrete solutions to strengthen the role of women in building peace and security in the Sahel region.
“We are convinced that the active contribution of women and girls is essential to achieving sustainable peace and ensuring a more stable and prosperous future for the Sahel region,” said Ms. Florence Raes, Regional Director a.i. of UN Women West and Central Africa.
The Ministry of Women’s Promotion and Child Protection, UN Women, the G5 Sahel and their partners call on all key actors to work together to create an enabling environment for the full participation of women and girls in the promotion of peace, security and development in the Sahel region and specially to accelerate the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
“Women and girls in Niger are disproportionately affected by crises and conflicts and the issue deserves special attention from the private sector, cooperation and partnership, States and civil society. It is also unanimous to recognize the potential that these women and girls have in the peace, security and development process in the Sahel region,” said Ms. Louise Aubin, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in Niger.
The meeting will also mark the launch of the project “Leadership of Women’s Organizations for Peace and Security in the Sahel” funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands to strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding and security in the Sahel region, in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. The project will run for a period of 4 (four) years and aims to strengthen the capacity of women’s peace organizations. Women have great potential to contribute significantly to the stabilization of the region, but face several organisational, institutional and programmatic challenges.
Women’s civil response to the crisis is crucial to achieving sustainable peace in the region and will complement and strengthen the actions of other actors working for peace in the region.
The project is structured around three strategic areas: capacity building, movement building, coalition building and advocacy. Women’s organisations will be strengthened at the organisational, institutional and operational levels, as well as in program management and resource mobilization. They will also be connected and work in synergy within strong networks, movements and/or coalitions.
Joint advocacy plans will be created for national and regional peace actions. “The project will reach a total of 103 women’s organizations, with increased financial support for a core group of 18 organizations, including three regional and three national organizations in each of the five G5 Sahel countries. They will be selected in a transparent manner based on clear indicators related to their potential for high impact,” says Ms. Marie-Josee Kandanga Peace, Security and Humanitarian Action Advisor at UN Women. The new approaches and recommendations resulting from the colloquium to be held in Niamey from May 3 to 5, 2023 will serve as a planning basis for the various actors supporting the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the region.