This project profile page contains information about The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Police project including project results, impact, and effective practices. This page will be updated annually in line with EIF project reporting requirements.
Data source: United Nations Peace Security Data Hub, a free public library of datasets on peace and security published by the United Nations
| T/PCC | Updates | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |||||||
| Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 43 | 7.24% | 68 | 7.46% | 54 | 5.57% | 39 | 6.36% | 37 | 14.92% | 37 | 15.23% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experts on Mission | 2 | 50.00% | 2 | 66.67% | 0 | / | 1 | 100.00% | 1 | 50.00% | 0 | / |
| Individual Police | 33 | 54.10% | 34 | 36.56% | 22 | 20.56% | 16 | 27.12% | 24 | 38.71% | 19 | 33.33% |
| Staff Officer | 1 | 5.88% | 1 | 5.56% | 4 | 26.67% | 1 | 20.00% | 1 | 25.00% | 1 | 20.00% |
| Troops | 7 | 1.37% | 31 | 3.88% | 28 | 3.30% | 21 | 3.83% | 11 | 6.11% | 17 | 9.39% |
The Côte d’Ivoire National Police has undergone significant transformation since the country’s post-conflict period, evolving from a recipient of international peacekeeping assistance to an active contributor to global peace operations. In response to civil unrest in the early 2000s, the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) was deployed to help stabilize the country. With the mission’s conclusion in 2017, Côte d’Ivoire began contributing personnel to UN peace operations. This marked a shift in the country’s role—from host of a UN peace operation to a troop- and police-contributing country (T/PCC)—demonstrating its growing commitment to regional and international security.
As part of its broader post-crisis recovery, Côte d’Ivoire launched a Security Sector Reform (SSR) in 2012 aimed at establishing a more inclusive, effective, and accountable security sector. A central pillar of this reform has been promoting gender equality, in line with the country’s international obligations. By 2023, the number of women in the national police force had increased to 3,247—representing approximately 13.73% of total personnel.
In alignment with the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, Côte d’Ivoire adopted a National Action Plan (NAP) to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325, with the goal of strengthening women’s roles in peace and security. Within the national police, this has included targeted recruitment, gender-responsive training, and institutional reforms aimed at creating a more inclusive working environment. These efforts acknowledge the vital role of women in community policing and conflict resolution as essential drivers of sustainable peace.
Côte d’Ivoire National Police, in partnership with UN Women Côte d’Ivoire, undertook a comprehensive barrier assessment using the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) methodology developed by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and Cornell University, to better understand the challenges affecting women’s meaningful participation in United Nations Peace Operations. The research was conducted by the Cellule d’Analyse des Politiques Economiques du CIRES (CAPEC) in collaboration with DCAF, using Partnership model C.
The assessment aimed to:
1. Identify the main barriers to women’s meaningful participation within the ten issue areas outlined in the MOWIP methodology;
2. Identify existing good practices within the Côte d’Ivoire Police that can be leveraged, scaled up, or shared more broadly;
3. Formulate a set of evidence-based recommendations for future activities to increase the participation of Ivoirian women police officers to United Nations Peace Operations;
4. Provide a baseline to measure progress in overcoming barriers to women’s participation.
Following the assessment, the Minister of Interior and Security, at the launch of the MOWIP report, pledged to enhance policewomen’s skills, formalize the Gender Unit within the DGPN, and mobilize resources from both the Government budget and partners such as the Elsie Fund to address the identified obstacles. The project is also expected to support future participation in the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) to enhance the meaningful participation of uniformed women in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
EIF OUTCOME 1
EXPANDED COUNTRY-KNOWLEDGE OF BARRIERS TO DEPLOYMENT
Surveys
380 surveys administered by the MOWIP
enumerator team (267 men and 113 women)
Interviews
27 interviews conducted with senior leadership, decision-makers, and program officers (19 men and 8 women)
MOWIP Report
1 MOWIP report launched
EIF OUTCOME 1
EXPANDED COUNTRY-KNOWLEDGE OF BARRIERS TO DEPLOYMENT
Surveys
380 surveys administered by the MOWIP
enumerator team (267 men and 113 women)
Interviews
27 interviews conducted with senior leadership, decision-makers, and program officers (19 men and 8 women)
US$219,996
US$219,996
Côte d’Ivoire Police
UN Women Cote d’Ivoire
Cellule d’Analyse des Politiques Economiques (CAPEC) du Centre Ivoirien de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (CIRES)
12 months
16 December 2021
6 January 2022
15 March 2023
15 months
The project generated a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of the barriers and opportunities affecting the meaningful participation of uniformed women in the Côte d’Ivoire Police. The findings have provided the Côte d’Ivoire Police and other national stakeholders with detailed data and practical recommendations on institutional, operational, and cultural factors influencing women’s deployment to United Nations peacekeeping. The assessment is also expected to serve as a key reference for policy development, planning, resource allocation, and institutional reform efforts aimed at advancing gender parity in peace operations.
