This project profile page contains information about The Republic of Senegal National Gendarmerie project including project results, impact, and effective practices. This page will be updated annually in line with EIF project reporting requirements.
| T/PCC | Updates | |||||||||
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
| Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | |
| Senegal | 136 | 6.38% | 194 | 9.16% | 217 | 9.18% | 227 | 11.17% | 205 | 16.15% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experts on Mission | 0 | / | 0 | / | 1 | 20.00% | 1 | 50.00% | 1 | 100.00% |
| Formed Police Units | 76 | 7.52% | 134 | 13.10% | 145 | 12.30% | 171 | 15.20% | 172 | 17.20% |
| Individual Police | 14 | 19.18% | 24 | 30.00% | 23 | 37.70% | 20 | 32.79% | 20 | 30.77% |
| Staff Officer | 2 | 6.67% | 2 | 6.45% | 3 | 9.38% | 2 | 5.88% | 2 | 8.33% |
| Troops | 44 | 4.33% | 34 | 3.47% | 45 | 4.14% | 33 | 4.07% | 10 | 5.59% |
The Republic of Senegal is among the largest contributors of police personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations. The Senegalese National Gendarmerie has deployed both Individual Police Officers (IPOs) and Formed Police Units (FPUs) to various UN missions, including those in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Established in 1963, the National Gendarmerie is part of the Senegalese Armed Forces and has evolved through key milestones, including the creation of specialized units and the inclusion of women in recruitment from 2006. Advancing gender equality is a core principle within the Armed Forces, including the Gendarmerie. The Gender Sectoral Strategy (SSG/FA) 2020–2022 set a target of 10% female representation and introduced structural reforms to support women’s integration. In line with this strategy, the Gendarmerie established a dedicated gender division in 2018 and implemented awareness-raising and capacity-building initiatives to foster a more inclusive environment.
The Senegal National Gendarmerie is committed to overcoming the barriers that hinder women’s meaningful participation in United Nations peace operations. In 2021, it conducted a Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) assessment to identify obstacles to women’s deployment. Key barriers included limited institutional understanding of gender equality, difficulties in balancing family responsibilities with international deployments, and a shortage of female gendarmes available for peacekeeping roles.
To address these challenges, the project aims to strengthen women’s participation through targeted training initiatives, with a focus on gender-responsive leadership and SEA/SH training prior to FPU deployments. It also seeks to address structural barriers by developing a comprehensive gender policy and establishing a daycare center to reduce household constraints that disproportionately affect women. The project further supports the deployment of gender-strong units to UN missions, ensuring that women are represented across all levels, including leadership, operational, and technical roles.
EIF OUTCOME 2
GSU DEPLOYMENT AND MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION
GSU
One GSU deployed to United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in 2024 with 22 per cent women’s representation at all levels. With EIF support, all 39 women were trained and mentored prior to deployment to ensure their full integration into the unit
EIF OUTCOME 3
GENDER-SENSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
daycare
One daycare centre opened in Q1 2024, currently hosting 23 children
EIF OUTCOME 3
ELIGIBLE POOL
women IPOs
deployed from
the roster
8 of the 19 rostered women who passed EIF-supported AMS-SAAT examinations in 2022 deployed as IPOs in 2023-2024 (6 women in 2023 and 2 new women IPOs in 2024), representing 42 per cent of the roster
EIF OUTCOME 3
CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING ON GENDER
security
personnel
trained
540 security personnel (431 men and 109 women) trained by FAS on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (SEA/SH), and gender issues prior to FPU deployment (3 FPU contingents)
gendarmes
trained
2,903 gendarmes in training (2,602 men and 301 women) were trained by FAS on SEA ⁄SH, and gender issues in Officer Training Schools in Fatick and Malicounda
EIF OUTCOME 3
CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING ON GENDER
gendarmes
trained in
leadership
34 gendarmes and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) including 32 women and 2 men, received training on transformational leadership
EIF OUTCOME 3
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Gender Policy launched in Q4
EIF OUTCOME 3
GENDER-SENSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
daycare
One daycare centre that can accommodate 70 children, inaugurated in Q4 (opening in Q1 2024)
EIF OUTCOME 3
ELIGIBLE POOL
women IPOs
deployed from
the roster
7 of the 19 rostered women who passed EIF supported AMS-SAAT examinations in 2022, deployed as IPOs in 2023
EIF OUTCOME 3
CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING ON GENDER
security
personnel
trained
445 security personnel were trained by FAS on gender and SEA/SH issues prior to FPU deployment
EIF OUTCOME 3
RECRUITMENT
women
recruited
283 women (9.6 per cent of total recruit intake), recruited to join the gendarmerie in 2023 as non-commissioned officers
EIF OUTCOME 2
GSU DEPLOYMENT AND MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION
GSUs
2 GSUs deployed to MONUSCO in 2021-2022 with
%
women’s
representation
16% women’s representation
GSU
One GSU was headed by the first women FPU commander to deploy to a peace operation in 2021
EIF OUTCOME 2
MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION
FPUs
A training course on gender issues and SEA/SH for each of (540 female and male gendarmes) was delivered prior to deployment
EIF OUTCOME 3
GENDER-SENSITIVE INFRASTRUCTURE
% complete
Construction of the day-care centre is 70% complete
EIF OUTCOME 3
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Gender Policy
One Gender Policy developed (to be launched in Q1 2023)
EIF OUTCOME 3
RECRUITMENT
women
recruited
91 women recruited into the national gendarmerie –– representing 4.6 per cent of recruit intake
EIF OUTCOME 3
ELEGIBLE POOL
% success rate
32 women who attended pre–AMS–SAAT training with EIF support were selected to take the test and 19 women passed, which represents a 59% success rate among women who took the AMS–SAAT test
EIF Outcomes 2 and 3
US$2,153,757
US$735,069
Senegal National Gendarmerie
Senegal National Gendarmerie
Femmes Africa Solidarité – Pan–African Centre for Gender,
Peace and Development (FAS – PAC)
FPF – 25 months; GSU – 36 months
23 December 2020
23 July 2021
30 June 2025
FPF – 47 months; GSU – 47 months
The project aims to enhance women’s participation in the Senegal National Gendarmerie and United Nations peace operations by promoting gender equality through policy development, leadership training, and SEA/SH training for all personnel prior to FPU deployment. It also supports work-life balance through the construction of a daycare center and equips women with the skills needed for peacekeeping roles. By fostering institutional change, the project empowers more women to serve in both leadership and operational roles, contributing to greater gender parity in peacekeeping.
