Norwegian govt to spend $2m on women peace, security programme to promote gender equality in Nigeria

The Norwegian Government is to spend the sum of 2 million US Dollars for Phase 2 of the Programme on Women, Peace & Security in Nigeria under the UN Women project.

The Women, Peace and Security Programme (Phase II) is designed to consolidate the gains of phase I and other Women Peace and Security (WSP) projects implemented by the UN Women in Nigeria.

The disclosure was made by the National Programme Officer of the project, Mr Peter Mancha during a one day stakeholders meeting held in Bauchi, at the Chartwell Hotel.

He explained that the Overall Objective of the WPS Programme is to realize a more peaceful and gender-equal society by creating an enabling environment for the implementation of Women, Peace and Security Commitments.

He stressed that it will be done through strengthening policy frameworks, capacity, coordination, and oversight of federal and state entities and increasing the meaningful participation of women to deliver on UNSCR 1325 commitments for conflict prevention and sustainable peace.

The Programme is a 3-Year initiative running from 2022-2024 to support the Nigerian Government towards meeting its commitments on UNSCR 1325, the National Action Plan (NAP) and its localization at state and LGA levels.

Peter Mancha added that the new Programme will also include women’s leadership and political participation, particularly in relation to peace and security concerns.

The Programme is being implemented by UN Women, in partnership with the Government of Nigeria, and with funding support from the Government of Norway.

Focus Areas of the Programme
Development of Nigeria’s 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security, using a multi-sectoral approach, Legislative Engagement on Women, Peace and Security, Women’s Leadership and Political Participation.

It will also focus on Women Mediation Programme Approach, Strengthen the functioning and sustainability of the WPS local structures established under Phase I, and linkages with previous EU funded WPS Programme, Technical Support plus Inter-State engagements – Bauchi, Benue, Adamawa, Gombe categorized into secondary beneficiary states.

There will also be Lighter Programming
Kaduna and Plateau to be engaged as primary beneficiaries of the Programme while the WPS agenda will be supported in the states through an integrated programming approach.

The Heavy Programming will focus on National Level Intervention: Policy development plus overall national coordination, monitoring and reporting of the WPS agenda

The Women Political Participation will be First year of programming 2022 which will Support women’s engagement and participation in the upcoming 2023 general elections in Plateau and Kaduna states.

There will also be the Implementation on GEOB in Plateau State and its passage into law in Kaduna State.

At a national level, support work with the Women’s Wings of political parties to strengthen their advocacy for increased representation within the party structures, as well as Work with women leaders and mediators to advocate for their increased representation, including that of young women and the prevention of violence against women in the elections, will be focused.