Category: Article

After two deployments to South Sudan and more than a decade of service in Jordan’s Public Security Directorate (PSD), Captain Tamara Almousleh understands that effective peacekeeping cannot be learned from manuals alone. From supporting vulnerable women and children in conflict-affected communities to conducting long-distance patrols and training local police, her experiences have shaped her approach … Continue reading “When you share knowledge, it grows”: Captain Tamara’s journey from peacekeeper to mentor

When people think about increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping, infrastructure is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Yet the Fund’s latest report shows that security institution facilities such as accommodation, ablution blocks, training centres and childcare services, can play an important role in enabling women to train, deploy and lead in … Continue reading Why infrastructure matters for women in peacekeeping

Lavenia Raisua, Gender Advisor to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), and Assistant Superintendent of Police Shobna Sharma of the Fiji Police Force (FPF) provide insights from their institutions’ Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) assessments. Their perspectives highlight how Fiji’s security institutions are working to better understand and address the barriers shaping women’s … Continue reading How Fiji’s security institutions are using research to strengthen peacekeeping

The Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI), has become the latest security institution to complete a Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) barrier assessment. This new evidence base is a milestone in Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to increase the participation of uniformed women in United Nations (UN) peace operations and to promote a more … Continue reading Côte d’Ivoire release new study on women’s participation in peacekeeping

Monrovia, 10 February 2026 — The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and UN Women Liberia have officially launched a new Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) project aimed at strengthening the institution’s gender‑responsive peacekeeping capabilities. This two‑year project will deliver targeted interventions to remove barriers faced by women in the AFL and expand the pool of Liberian … Continue reading Liberia launches Elsie Initiative Fund project to advance gender‑responsive peacekeeping

Inside Sénégal’s National Gendarmerie, attitudes towards gender are beginning to shift. With support from the Elsie Initiative Fund, gender-focused training is encouraging young student gendarmes such as Awa Padane and Babou Mansaly to rethink long-held beliefs about equality and leadership in the security sector. “I used to think that leadership in the gendarmerie was reserved … Continue reading Discussing gender norms with Sénégal’s next generation of peacekeepers

Captain Ndeye Yacine Faye was one of the first women to join the Sénégal National Gendarmerie and is the first to command its Air Transport Company. In 2025 she passed the Assessment for Mission Service (AMS), a standardised test that determines suitability for deployment to United Nations peacekeeping operations. She shares her journey, challenges, and … Continue reading When women lead: Captain Ndeye Yacine Faye, trailblazer in the Sénégal Gendarmerie

Officer Toffe Mendy is Sénégal’s only female special weapons and tactics (SWAT) officer, with a passion for global peacekeeping. She recently participated in the EIF-supported training, which prepares women for future deployment within a formed police unit (FPU). She shares with the EIF insights into her role, journey, and her aspirations for the future. “I … Continue reading Toffe Mendy: “Being the only woman in the unit has its challenges, but I don’t think gender determines a person’s worth or skills.”

Security sector reform demands determination and sustained commitment from those in leadership. Police Commissioner Binetou Guisse—the Sénégal National Police’s first official gender focal point—is at the forefront of this reform. With support from the Elsie Initiative Fund, the Sénégal National Police is taking concrete steps to expand the meaningful deployment of uniformed women to United … Continue reading When Women Lead: Commissioner Guisse on reforming security institutions in Sénégal

Lieutenant General Cheryl Pearce is the highest-ranking uniformed woman in the United Nations (UN). As Acting UN Military Advisor, she oversees the delivery of military capabilities to UN peace operations. In her previous role, Lieutenant General Pearce was appointed as Force Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) between 2019 – 2021. With … Continue reading When Women Lead: Lieutenant General Cheryl Pearce on navigating command and culture in peacekeeping