The Head of Component of the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, Ms Theresa Kraft, has called for stronger integration of gender perspectives into peace and security operations across Africa, stressing that existing policy commitments must translate into practical action.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Gender Advisers’ Course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, Ms Kraft said the continent’s increasingly complex security challenges demand inclusive approaches that recognise the different experiences of women, men, girls and boys.
She identified conflicts, displacement, inequality, weak institutions and shrinking civic space as major challenges affecting communities across Africa.
“Gender mainstreaming is therefore not an optional add-on to peace and security work. It is essential to understanding conflict dynamics, protecting civilians, strengthening participation and building sustainable peace,” she stated.
Ms Kraft acknowledged significant progress in developing gender-related policies within the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS and European Union but expressed concern about the persistent gap between policy commitments and implementation.
According to her, gender advisers and focal points play a critical role in bridging this gap by supporting institutional leadership, strengthening accountability and ensuring that the needs of women and girls are reflected in peace and security decisions.
“You help translate commitments into plans, plans into practice, and practice into measurable results,” she emphasised.
She explained that the Gender Advisers’ Course, first delivered in 2021, was designed to address the growing demand for practical gender mainstreaming skills among national institutions and peace and security practitioners.
The training seeks to strengthen participants’ capacity to apply gender analysis tools, advise institutional leadership and support the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Ms Kraft urged participants drawn from across Africa to exchange experiences, challenge existing assumptions and identify practical measures to implement within their respective institutions.
She reaffirmed the commitment of Germany, the European Union and Denmark, through the EPSG Project, to supporting the programme alongside the Folke Bernadotte Academy.
According to her, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to inclusive governance, conflict prevention and the meaningful participation of women and young people in peace and security processes across West Africa.
Ms Kraft also commended the ECOWAS Gender and Development Centre for its regional leadership and KAIPTC for its efforts to institutionalise and further develop the training programme.
She expressed optimism that sustained collaboration among the institutions would strengthen gender-responsive approaches to peacebuilding and security across the continent.