Gender mainstreaming in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is key to the successful implementation of the mission mandate and in contributing to sustainable peace processes in Somalia ahead of its 2016 elections. Recognising this, the Training for Peace in Africa Programme at ACCORD (ACCORD/TfP) collaborated with AMISOM to organise a workshop aimed at validating their Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, which was held from 7-9 July 2015. To further develop the recommendations made during this validation workshop, a follow-up workshop was also jointly organised by ACCORD/TfP and AMISOM one month later in Mogadishu, Somalia. The workshop was also supported by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).
This platform increased awareness of the gender strategy among AMISOM personnel, Somali government officials and other relevant actors, and identified entry points through which the validated gender strategy will be implemented. It also defined the roles of different stakeholders and led to the development of an implementation plan for the newly validated gender strategy. This will support the implementation of activities that will not only mainstream gender considerations in the mission’s operations, but also strengthen the protection of men, women, boys and girls in Somalia.
The workshop was attended by personnel from the military, civilian and police components of AMISOM, the AU Peace Support Operations Division and partners in Somalia – including the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA). The workshop was also supported by experts from African Union Mission in Central African Republic (MISAC) and International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC). Other key participants included: AMISOM Deputy Head of Mission Hon. Lydia Wanyoto; Attorney General of Somalia Dr Dahir Ahmed; AMISOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support and Logistics Maj. Gen Nakibus Lakara; AMISOM Police Commissioner Anand Pillay; Hon. Mariam Moalim, the Chair of the Women Caucus of Somali, as well as Gen. Mohamed Abdulle Dore, representing the Somalia National Police Force and Director General Mohamed Omar from the Ministry of Women and Human Rights in Somalia. ACCORD/TfP was represented by Ms Irene Limo – Senior Programme Officer of the Peacekeeping Unit, Mr Kwezi Mngqibisa – Coordinator of ACCORD’s Somalia Project Initiative, and Ms Olivia Victoria Davies – Programme Officer in the Peacekeeping Unit.
The implementation plan was developed based on the following six cluster areas:
- Support to Political Processes Cluster (Constitutional review, election, state formation, and reconciliation);
- Support to the Security Sector;
- Securing of the Main Supply Routes;
- Protection, Human Rights and Gender;
- Stabilisation & Early Recovery; and the
- Mission Support Functions (recruitment and administration).
The implementation plan developed by the participants reflected key entry points identified for strengthening the gender mainstreaming process, both within and outside the mission area. Continued engagement with the relevant stakeholders working with AMISOM in implementing the strategy in Somalia will further increase local ownership of the strategy and implementation process. These efforts will strengthen the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Somalia, in AMISOM and in other Peace Operations across Africa.
The Training for Peace in Africa Programme is an initiative funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
