“Accelerating action for gender equality is not just a call—it is a basic human right. Women’s participation in peacebuilding is not an optional add-on or a ‘ticking the box’ exercise; it is fundamental to achieving lasting peace. At Interpeace, we have seen firsthand how empowering women transforms entire communities and fosters resilience. Yet, progress remains stagnant. We cannot wait five more generations for full gender parity. The world cannot afford to wait any longer—ensuring that women are not just present but actively shaping peace and security must be a priority now, not stay as an aspirational goal.”

Renée Larivière, Interpeace Senior Director of Programmes

“Accelerate Action” is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, calling for urgent action to address gender inequality and systemic barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential. According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2,158 to reach full gender parity, which is roughly five generations from now. To speed up the rate of progress worldwide, we must acknowledge the strategies, resources and activities that are positively impacting women’s advancement and continue to support their implementation. By uniting under this theme, we reinforce our collective responsibility to create a world where gender equality is not just an aspiration, but a reality.  

Interpeace has established its commitment to integrating gender and contributing to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security through its global guidelines: 10 Foundations of Gender-Inclusive Peacebuilding. Interpeace has since undertaken several initiatives dedicated to or integrating gender. From 2023-2024, 75% of Interpeace’s programmes had at least one project that was either dedicated to or integrating activities aimed at enhancing women’s meaningful participation to peace. These initiatives include strengthening women’s civic engagement and inclusion in conflict prevention, promoting women’s participation in governance, empowering women through trauma healing, supporting women’s economic development through collaborative livelihood initiatives, among others. Through these efforts, Interpeace and our longstanding local partners, are working together to encourage and strengthen collective action that addresses gender inequality in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali, Rwanda, and Somalia. 

Promoting women’s participation in governance is not only a matter of justice and equality, but it’s also essential for the progress of society, as it ensures that governance structures are more inclusive, effective, and responsive to the needs of all citizens. Additionally, it helps address historical and systemic inequalities, challenging gender stereotypes and paving the way for future generations of women to aspire to and achieve leadership roles. 

In Burundi, Interpeace and local partners are currently implementing two projects nationwide, integrating a strong component to promote inclusivity and equality in governance. The programme actively advocates for women’s participation and provides training for both women and their partners on the importance of gender inclusion in decision-making processes. It also offers sensitization on inclusive governance and on positive masculinity for policy makers, encouraging them to recognize the value of inclusion and the need for gender balance in leadership structures. The programme operates in eight provinces and 13 communes, working closely with five local partners: Conflict Alert and Prevention Centre (CENAP), Burundi Leadership Training Program (BLTP), Initiative et Changement Burundi, YAGA Burundi, and Jimbere Magazine. This collaboration ensures a localized, sustainable and impactful approach to governance and peacebuilding, reinforcing gender inclusivity across different levels of engagement. 

To ensure gender inclusivity in governance, one of the projects implemented in Burundi, focuses on employing multiple advocacy strategies. The programme engages local and national leaders through provincial and national forums to foster support for community priorities and initiatives, with a particular focus on women and young women. To date, six provincial forums and one national forum have been held. Furthermore, the project targets discussions with decision-makers and community leaders emphasizing the need to include women in governance. These engagements foster a sense of responsibility among leaders to actively promote gender inclusion and address women's priorities. The project has also organised six political cafés, creating dialogue spaces to discuss and promote women’s interests and ensure their priorities are integrated into governance and decision-making processes. Lastly, the programme provides technical and financial support to initiatives led by women’s platforms that address women’s priorities. So far, ten initiatives have been supported by local partners. 

A second project focuses on training women in good governance, leadership and civic engagement to empower them to recognize their role in governance, advocate for their inclusion in decision-making and effectively express their priorities to leaders. These trainings have strengthened women’s capacity to participate actively in political and public spaces. Adelaïde Uwimana is a testament of how advocating for women in decision-making roles and protecting their interests has led to significant shifts in a community that previously lacked female leadership. Adelaïde was appointed chief of the Kavumu district in the Kamenge zone of Bujumbura Mairie, Burundi. She expressed how her path took a turn when she joined the project where she was able to overcome her initial hesitations and embrace her role as a leader: "I've realized that my voice can have a greater impact, especially by involving more women committed to a kind of synergy within the community".  

The impact of female leadership in Kamenge soon became evident, with a notable decrease in reported cases of domestic violence – a transformation acknowledged by other leaders in the area. According to Adelaïde, the presence of women in decision-making positions instilled a sense of trust among survivors, who felt more comfortable confiding in fellow women. "The successful cases we handle on a daily basis motivate others to come to us and ask for our intervention," she said, noting that the determination of women in leadership roles prompted perpetrators of domestic violence to question their behaviour. Adelaïde Uwimana's journey showcases the potential of female leadership in combating violence against women and fostering societal change. Her commitment to promoting women's empowerment extends beyond immediate outcomes, envisioning a future where women's leadership becomes synonymous with an equitable and resilient society.  

Additionally, Interpeace’s programme in Burundi has also integrated promoting positive masculinities to contribute to sustainable peace, enabling men to actively support the promotion of women led initiatives in the private, public, and political spheres. Yassin Nimubona, a young visionary from Muyinga province, Burundi, attended an awareness-raising training course on "Citizen participation, good governance, leadership and positive masculinity". This course, offered by the programme aimed to foster inclusive and collaborative livelihood and social cohesion initiatives. Reflecting on his past mindset, he admitted, "Before the training, I thought that women were incapable of managing important affairs, that they could only take care of household chores. This conception was nurtured in me by the practices of my religion, which does not emphasize women's participation in governance." However, the training on positive masculinity sparked a profound change in Yassin, as he revealed, "I began to give more consideration to my wife and to all women in general.” His efforts have empowered women in his community, making them more aware of their rights and inspiring some to pursue decision-making roles. 

Civic engagement empowers women by giving them a voice in public affairs and the ability to influence decisions that affect their lives and communities. It fosters a sense of agency and confidence, enabling women to advocate for their rights and needs. In Mali, women’s civic engagement is limited in many regions by the weight of socio-cultural norms, low levels of school enrollment and lack of access to decision-making spheres. All these factors hinder women’s ability to influence the definition and implementation of public policies. In this context Interpeace and its local partner Aide au développement durable (ADD), are implementing a project that aims to strengthen women's civic engagement and their role as agents of change in governance, socio-economic development and peacebuilding in Mali. 

In early 2023, following the assessment of support needs of 15 partner civil society organisations, a series of capacity-building activities were organised. The sessions included workshops that focused on: organisational life, project management, management techniques, resource mobilization and organisational communication. The objective of these activities was to equip the beneficiaries with tools, techniques and skills that would enable them to improve the administrative and financial management of their respective civil society organisations, and to strengthen leadership. These capacity-building initiatives also helped facilitate the implementation of more strategic and inclusive actions for peace, development and social cohesion. Additionally, dialogue with traditional chiefs and authorities were extended and advocacy efforts were conducted to increase the role of women in peacebuilding.  

“There's synergy of action between us and the other women's organisations. We've even set up a network called the Voice of Women Network. We get together to talk about the problems that women face and find solutions and even mobilize resources through awareness-raising activities and capacity building.” Fadi Walet Mohamedine, President of the Association “Femmes artisanes de paix”. 

In the past two years, over 750 women have benefited directly from this project in Bamako, Timbuktu and Mopti, with more than 40 community dialogues, 3 regional workshops, 297 awareness-raising sessions, and over 50 women actively participating in the inter -Malian dialogue process. Women’s growing involvement in conflict prevention and resolution is ensuring that solutions are more comprehensive and sustainable. 

Trauma can have long-lasting effects on mental and emotional health. Empowering women to heal from trauma helps them regain their sense of self-worth, confidence, and emotional stability. Furthermore, trauma can perpetuate cycles of violence, abuse, and inequality. By addressing and healing trauma, women can break these cycles and create healthier, more positive environments for themselves and future generations.  

Women constitute the majority of the Rwandan population (51.5%). Yet, a considerable portion still experiences trauma stemming from the Genocide against the Tutsi and its aftermath, which hinders their social, political, and economic empowerment. Interpeace and its local partners are working to address this challenge by implementing a holistic peacebuilding programme focused on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), social cohesion, and economic development through collaborative livelihood initiatives. The combination of these pillars is designed to foster both individual and community healing, as well as resilience. 

The programme uses group-based psychosocial interventions such as Resilience-oriented therapy, Multifamily Healing Spaces, and Sociotherapy to promote trauma healing and reconciliation while enhancing individual and family resilience. These interventions have significantly reduced trauma-related conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, fear, borderline personality disorders, and alcohol abuse—barriers that previously hindered participants' ability to engage in economic activities, family life, and community involvement.  

Participants have consistently highlighted how the programme boosted their confidence, enabling them to accomplish tasks they once thought impossible while also improving their ability to manage emotions with composure and resilience. They reported significant improvements in communication skills, empathy, and relationship-building, fostering a greater sense of connection and trust within their communities. Trauma healing serves as a prerequisite for women's full empowerment. Participants who previously struggled emotionally are now actively engaging in economic activities, ensuring stable food supplies for themselves and their families. 

Immaculée B., a 45-year-old mother of 10, had no income-generating activity before joining the programme. She described how the intervention empowered her to take control of her financial future. After graduating from the healing group, she and her peers started a savings and credit group, which inspired her to open a tailoring shop two years ago. She now employs three permanent staff members and five daily wage workers. "Before joining the group, I never thought it would be possible to start a business because I lacked capital and the confidence to borrow money coupled with the long-lasting trauma I had. But after graduating, I felt encouraged by the collective effort. I opened a small shop, and now I generate income for myself and my family. I am even considering expanding my business and opening another shop in town due to high demand." 

Participants who complete the healing process through group-based therapies are also equipped with financial and entrepreneurship skills through the Collaborative Livelihood intervention. This initiative facilitates their economic empowerment and helps them build sustainable financial futures while fostering healing, reconciliation, and resilience within their families and communities. They are placed in cooperatives and supported with seed capital to launch collaborative business initiatives in various sectors such as agribusiness, livestock farming, and apiculture, as well as retail. Others, particularly young women and incarcerated women nearing their release are provided with hands-on skills training through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), where they learn trades such as handicrafts, tailoring, hairdressing and beauty, carpentry, and welding. 

Vocational training and collaborative initiatives have provided immediate and long-term benefits by instilling a sense of empowerment, responsibility, and hope for a sustainable future. Over the past three years, around 10,000 women and young girls have been reached through the programme. Their stories highlight the broader impact of the intervention—not just in terms of financial empowerment but also in personal growth. The healing spaces and group support systems have equipped them with the confidence, financial literacy, and emotional resilience needed to overcome economic barriers and pursue their goals. Psychosocial healing and economic empowerment have contributed to a 40% decrease in extreme poverty among participants. 

Puntland, one of the Federal Member States (FMS) in Somalia, has witnessed significant democratic advancements in recent years. This was marked by the first direct local council elections in over five decades that were held across all 36 districts in 2021, 2023, and 2024. The direct elections marked a major shift from the previous indirect electoral model, where clan elders selected leaders. The Puntland elections were viewed as a pivotal moment for Puntland and Somalia's political landscape, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups who were disadvantaged by the previous selection model.

Recognizing the need for increased female representation, the Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC), in collaboration with Interpeace, prioritized enhancing women's participation in the local government elections. Several strategies were employed to advance this goal that included advocacy initiatives, capacity-building for women candidates, and the promotion of legal frameworks ensuring inclusivity. In total, some 1,605 women were directly reached through the programme activities that advocated for increased women representation in the local council elections.

The joint collaboration between Interpeace and PDRC led to comprehensive training sessions in districts such as Badhan, Dhahar, Bosaso, and Galkacyo, equipping female candidates with essential campaigning skills, from political strategy to public speaking. This initiative empowered 333 women to effectively engage in the electoral process. Furthermore, the programme organized forums that connected female candidates with voters, allowing them to share their backgrounds and political agendas. These interactions fostered support for female candidates and encouraged voter participation, significantly enhancing women’s visibility in the political sphere. Nine women candidates from various political associations participated in the forum, where they shared their leadership visions and manifestos. Held in the capital, Garowe, the event elevated the agenda for increasing women’s representation in elected positions.

PDRC collaborated with other influential stakeholders, including Puntland Non-State Actors Association (PUNSAA) and the UN, which created synergies and strengthened the national discourse on the important issue of women participation in governance. Approximately 100 community members attended the forum, including 80 women, along with representatives from the electoral commission and political associations. The participants offered encouragement to the women candidates, emphasizing their pioneering roles in a challenging political landscape that requires time and effort to overcome the numerous negative social norms that hinder other aspiring women political leaders across Puntland and Somalia.

Additionally, the programme offers civic education initiatives in various districts. To date, at least 3,000 community members (37% women) have engaged in discussion about gender equality and political participation. These sessions aim to advocate for increased women representation in local council elections. These sessions have played an important role in promoting public discourse on the need for having more women participate in the formal political processes in Puntland. According to the final official data, which was published by Puntland’s electoral commission, 199,416 women that had registered as voters participated in the elections, which represented 49% of the voter turnout. As this was the first election in over five decades, this turnout was commendable.

To promote a forward-looking agenda for women’s political participation, PDRC organised a forum that focused on the 2024-2029 Puntland Parliament elections. The forum, which was attended by 70 women, emphasized the need for a mandatory women's quota to help promote and enforce greater gender inclusion within the electoral process. From the forum, a pressure group of prominent women allies was established to support female candidates, which further solidified these advocacy efforts.

Through these efforts, PDRC and Interpeace are not only enhancing women's representation in local governance but also contributing to the broader democratization process in Puntland, paving the way for a more inclusive political landscape. Currently, Somalia envisions rolling out direct elections at the federal, state and local levels that will build on the experience and lessons learned from Puntland’s elections.

As illustrated by the initiatives described above, Interpeace and our local partners have demonstrated that with the right strategies and dedicated resources, it is possible to effectively accelerate action to reach gender equality. Through these efforts women are breaking gender stereotypes, while also enhancing their ability to participate in sustainable peacebuilding. Empowering women in peacebuilding efforts strengthens democratic governance and promotes gender equality, ultimately leading to a more just and peaceful world.