A total of 33 Nigeriens are currently undergoing training at Niamey on how to monitor and report on the Women Peace and Security Agenda using the Continental Results Framework (CRF).
The CRF is a tool for accountability, developed by the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security at the African Union Commission (AUC) for monitoring and reporting on the WPS agenda in Africa.
Organised by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in partnership with the AUC, the training is also aimed at addressing the gap in monitoring and reporting on the progress of the implementation of National Action Plan on the United National Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).
It also followed request by member states for the enhancement of their capacity to effectively utilise the framework to monitor and report on their National Action Plan using the CRF.
Opening the training yesterday, Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, Air Commodore George Arko-Dadzie said, Niger as well as the various development partners, civil society groups, women’s groups and relevant national agencies have significantly contributed to the implementation of the women peace and security agenda in the country.
He noted that in 2019, Niger, as part of its commitment towards fulfilling its state party reporting obligations to the Office of the Special Envoy on WPS at the AUC, presented its 2019 Report on the WPS Agenda which highlighted the achievements the government made to promote the WPS Agenda in the country.
The training, Air Commodore Arko-Dadzie said, would enhance the collaboration among the national actors to support the Niger government to document the progress, success stories and challenges at implementing the women peace and security agenda in Niger as a whole.
Additionally, he said, it would help in the development of the country’s yearly report on its National Action Plan to the Office of the Special Envoy in particular.
“I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your knowledge on the WPS agenda as well as to enhance your skills in using the CRF in your quest to report and monitor the implementation of the women peace and security agenda.
A key outcome of the training is to guide participants to outline a comprehensive roadmap on operationalising the CRF in Niger and to enhance local actors commitment to report on Niger National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325,” Air Commodore Arko-Dadzie noted.
He expressed gratitude to the Office of the Special Envoy on Women Peace and Security at the AUC as well as government of Sweden for enabling the organisation of the training as part of their commitment to enhance the operationalisation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa.
Niger Minister of the Promotion of Women and the Protection of Children, AllahouryAminataZourkaleini said, the country was committed to the women peace and security agenda.
She explained that the Nigerien government was working to improve the competencies and knowledge on monitoring women peace and security.
She thanked the KAIPTC and all other partners for working to make the training a success and urged the participants to take advantage of the event to build their capacities to support government’s efforts.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
