New York, 02 June 2025 — The Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations (EIF) announced today that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and Fiji Police Force (FPF) have been awarded funding to conduct studies that identify barriers to women’s participation in United Nations (UN) Peace Operations.
The study will adopt the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) methodology, developed by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and Cornell University, which focuses on ten key issue areas that impact women’s participation before, during and after deployment.
With Fiji’s two leading security institutions conducting their assessments in parallel, the project provides a unique opportunity to exchange lessons and share resources to support the success of both studies.
The findings will increase the Fijian national security sector’s understanding of the practical, cultural, and structural barriers to women’s underrepresentation in its ranks and in peace operations. This approach will enable the RFMF and FPF to take evidence-based action to dismantle barriers and create a more inclusive security force that promotes peace and security.
Fiji currently contributes 471 military personnel to UN Peace Operations in Lebanon (UNIFIL), South Sudan (UNMISS) and Syria (UNDOF), with women representing nine per cent of its contingent. The FPF contributes 27 individual police officers in South Sudan and the disputed region of Abyei (UNISFA), with 37 per cent women.
Expanding institutional knowledge will enable RFMF and FPF to develop data-driven solutions to ensure their peacekeeping deployments are more inclusive. Globally, over 61,000 peacekeepers serve across 11 missions. Fiji’s efforts align with the UN Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy which is seeking women to make up 15 per cent of UN peacekeeping troops, and 25 per cent of experts and staff officers by 2028.
Key stakeholders from Fiji’s security sector attended an event on Monday welcoming the new projects:
“The gender barrier assessment is not a checklist — it is a call to action. We will use its findings to transform our policies, culture, and practices to ensure the RFMF is a place where every Fijian, regardless of gender, can serve with dignity and purpose.” – RFMF Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
“In recognition of women’s contribution, the Fiji Police Force commits to foster an environment that is supportive, inclusive and empowering women to break barriers and contribute to a more balanced and effective workforce, in all fronts of policing.” – FPF Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu.
About the Elsie Initiative Fund
The EIF is the only global fund dedicated to removing barriers and accelerating women’s meaningful participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Hosted by UN Women, the Fund delivers results in security sector reform; strengthens the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, and advances the UN Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS). Funded by contributions from forward-thinking donors, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom, the EIF supports the sustainable deployment and meaningful participation of uniformed women peacekeepers by providing financial assistance and incentives. For more information on the EIF, please visit elsiefund.org and follow @ElsieFund on X and LinkedIn.
To date, the EIF has awarded almost US$18 million to 23 projects globally. The Fund has supported 24 Security Institutions in 15 countries to identify barriers and opportunities that impact uniformed women’s safe, full, equal and meaningful deployment to peace operations. It has also funded the development of Gender Policies in two security institutions and provided financial support to two United Nations peacekeeping missions to pilot activities aimed at improving living and working conditions for women. Among the recipients, the Ghanaian Armed Forces and the Senegalese Police and Gendarmerie have deployed four gender-strong units comprising of 1,277 personnel with 18 per cent women across all ranks.
For more information please contact:
Suparva Narasimhaiah – Project Coordination Specialist – Elsie Initiative Fund
Luke Horswell – Communications Specialist – Elsie Initiative Fund
