The African Union Commission, through the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS), on 27 June 2025, successfully concluded a three-day high-level workshop designed to revitalize how Africa monitors and implements its Women, Peace and Security (WPS) commitments through the Continental Results Framework (CRF).

Held under the theme “Reinvigorating WPS Monitoring through the Continental Results Framework and Strengthening Research for Women, Peace and Security in Africa,” the workshop took place at a pivotal moment as the continent prepares to commemorate the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325—a historic declaration affirming the central role of women in peace and security processes.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, reaffirmed AU’s strong commitment to the WPS agenda. She underscored the importance of inclusive leadership, evidence-based policymaking, and robust partnerships, while paying tribute to her predecessor, Mme. Bineta Diop, for laying the foundation for institutional gains in the WPS space.

Ms. Beletshachew Aynalem, Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation Specialist representing UN Women, on her part, presented the CRF as a critical political tool for advancing gender equality within Africa’s peace and security architecture. She emphasized the urgency of ratifying the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, strengthening women’s leadership, enhancing grassroots inclusion, and securing sustainable financing for WPS efforts.

Mr. Toru Sugio, Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan to the African Union, reaffirmed Japan’s growing commitment to the WPS agenda. He reiterated Japan’s support for the newly appointed AU Special Envoy, particularly in scaling women’s participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and security governance.

In her closing address, Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, Director for Women, Gender and Youth at the African Union Commission, stated: “This workshop has not only identified critical gaps and innovations—it has laid the foundation for a new era of WPS implementation. The CRF must evolve into a vibrant, inclusive, and responsive tool that reflects the lived realities of African women at the forefront of peace and conflict.” She stressed that WPS progress must be driven by collective commitment, sustained political will, and coordinated action across sectors.

The outcomes of the workshop on operationalizing the CRF and accelerating the WPS agenda include:
• Recalibrating the CRF: Participants advocated for a simplified, digital CRF reporting tool tailored to Member States’ capacities. Biennial reporting and real-time feedback loops were recommended to minimize fatigue and enhance ownership.
• Ten Priority Actions Identified: These included integrating emerging challenges such as digital violence and climate security into CRF indicators, supporting intergenerational leadership, and enabling localized, data-driven implementation.
• Improved Coordination Mechanisms: Alignment between national steering committees, regional bodies, and grassroots actors to drive forward the WPS mandate.
• Field Voices from the Sahel: Delegates from Chad, Burkina Faso, and Niger shared contextual innovations and urged increased funding for community-led peacebuilding and hybrid data models.
• Enhanced Accountability Measures: AU to harmonize WPS reporting timelines, provide consistent feedback, and ensure CRF reports inform high-level policymaking and budget allocations.

The workshop was attended by over 60 participants, including WPS focal points from AU Member States, the East African Standby Force, and leading WPS Centers of Excellence, representatives from the Pan-African Center of Senegal, Namibia Peace Center, the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), and the SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Center. Also in attendance were representatives from UN agencies (UNDP, OHCHR, and UNOAU), academia, and civil society organizations such as Plan International, ACCORD, World Vision International, the Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), and the African Women Peace and Security Institute (AWPSI). Key international partners—Japan, Norway, NORCAP, and UNITAR—provided technical support among others, demonstrating global solidarity with Africa’s women-led peacebuilding efforts.

It is worth noting that, as Africa marks 25 years of UNSCR 1325, the momentum must translate into concrete, measurable, and inclusive actions. According to the organisers, this workshop has reignited purpose among stakeholders to transform WPS aspirations into lived realities—where African women are not only beneficiaries but leaders of peace and security processes. ‘The African Union stands ready to move forward—powered by data, led by women, and united by the unwavering goal of peace with gender justice at its core”.

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Ms. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division | Information and Communications Directorate, AUC, Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission to the UN | E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org , Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)

Daniel Massamba Meboya | Communication Lead | Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security | African Union Commission | E-mail: MassambaD@africanunion.org | mailto:Musabayanaw@africa-union.org