New York, 29 September 2025 — The Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) has announced funding for a two-year pilot project with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to improve conditions for uniformed women peacekeepers deployed to remote areas.
Assessments conducted by UNMISS between 2022 and 2024 found that accommodation and water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities within Company Operating Bases (COBs), Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs), and during Long Duration Patrols (LDPs) disproportionately affected uniformed women peacekeepers, resulting in limitations on their ability to contribute effectively in remote areas.
Despite their vital role in peacekeeping, uniformed women are currently deployed to only 12 of the mission’s 25 locations, with representation in COBs/TOBs at five per cent for contingent troops and nine per cent for United Nations Police (UNPOL) personnel as of June 2025. The pilot project will address these challenges by:
- Deploying ten relocatable ablution facilities to remote COBs and TOBs.
- Distributing over 1,000 personal sanitation kits, including portable toilets, and other devices to support uniformed women peacekeepers during patrols.
By improving conditions in the field and the quality of deployment experiences, UNMISS will create an environment that enables women peacekeepers to contribute safely and effectively to UN operations; it will also enhance the mission’s ability to engage more meaningfully with local communities.
“This project is not just about infrastructure – it’s about dignity, safety, and operational effectiveness,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. “By providing women peacekeepers with the correct equipment and facilities, we are enabling them to fully participate in mission-critical tasks and contribute to lasting peace in South Sudan.”
Deployment experiences have been identified as a primary barrier to the full, equal, and meaningful participation of uniformed women in global peacekeeping. UNMISS has over 13,000 uniformed personnel, ten per cent of whom are women. Working in partnership with the Elsie Initiative Fund, the mission is aiming to increase the participation of women in line with the United Nations Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy.
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 supports T/PCCs to deliver results in security sector reform, strengthen the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and advance the United Nations Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy. 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 or follow the Fund on X and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Luke Horswell – EIF Communications Consultant; luke.horswell@unwomen.org; +254 783161616
