KAIPTC successfully hosted the final edition of the Training Program for Francophone African Women in Leadership for Peace and Security (LFAF-PS), aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and participation in peace and security processes across Africa.
Twenty women from approximately ten French-speaking African countries participated in a two-week capacity-building programme which was implemented with support from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), France, and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).
The LFAF-PS programme seeks to promote women’s leadership and increase the effective participation of Francophone African women in conflict prevention, mediation, dialogue, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding mechanisms. It targets women engaged in public and private decision-making structures within the peace and security sector, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to influence policy and practice at national, regional, and international levels.
During the in-person training in Accra, participants received instruction on transformational leadership, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, advocacy, and leadership project design. The programme also covered key normative frameworks, including UN Security Council Resolution 1325, National Action Plans on WPS, mediation processes, and women’s participation in peace initiatives.
As part of its sustained capacity-building approach, the LFAF-PS programme extended beyond the residential training through a series of three thematic webinars. The webinars were designed to consolidate knowledge acquired in Accra and support participants in refining and implementing their personal leadership projects in their respective countries.
The webinar series focused on project design, advocacy strategy, and facilitation skills and introduced participants to problem analysis, stakeholder mapping, and structured project development aimed at addressing root causes of identified challenges. Emphasis was placed on evidence-based planning and inclusive engagement to ensure effective and sustainable outcomes. Samantha Ntibashirwa from Burundi said this after the programme. “I come out of this training not only well equipped and inspired, but also determined to put these skills at the service of the women and girls I support in northern Bujumbura. The renewed energy and clarified vision I gained from this experience will guide my actions on the ground.