Press Release: Official Launch of the MOWIP Report on the Participation of Ivorian Women Soldiers in Peacekeeping Operations
Date:
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – Launch of the MOWIP Evaluation Report Applied to the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI)
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – On Thursday, 11 June 2026, at 9:00 a.m., UN Women Côte d’Ivoire, the Ministry of State, Ministry of Defence, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces (EMGA) will jointly host the launch ceremony of the report on the “Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations” (MOWIP) assessment conducted within the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire (FACI).
Commissioned by UN Women Côte d’Ivoire in support of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the MOWIP assessment was carried out by the Economic Policy Analysis Unit of the Ivorian Centre for Economic and Social Research (CAPEC-CIRES), with financial support from the Elsie Initiative Fund for Women in Peace Operations and technical assistance from the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).
This ceremony marks a major milestone in Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts to increase the participation of women military personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations and to promote a more inclusive military institution.
The initiative is aligned with Côte d’Ivoire’s commitments to the Women, Peace and Security agenda, particularly through the implementation of the National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2024–2028), as well as with the ongoing modernization and professionalization of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire under the Military Orientation Law, which promotes greater gender integration within the military institution.
Since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in October 2000, the international community has committed to strengthening women’s roles in conflict prevention and resolution, as well as in peace processes. In this context, the United Nations has set targets of achieving, by 2028, 15 percent women’s representation in military contingents and 25 percent among military observers and staff officers deployed in peacekeeping operations.
Between 2017 and 2024, Côte d’Ivoire deployed 2,395 military personnel to peacekeeping operations, including only 96 women, representing approximately 4 percent of deployed personnel. The gap between these ambitions and the reality of deployments led to the implementation of an evidence-based assessment aimed at identifying barriers to the participation of Ivorian women military personnel in United Nations peace operations.
Conducted since January 2025, the assessment follows the internationally recognized MOWIP methodology. It combined an extensive document review, interviews with key defence-sector decision-makers, and a survey of 380 military personnel, including 190 women and 190 men, across six military regions of Côte d’Ivoire: Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, Korhogo, Man, and Daloa. The assessment examined the full trajectory of women military personnel—from selection criteria to deployment on mission, including career advancement opportunities, family responsibilities, and lived experiences in the field.
The findings and recommendations of the assessment were endorsed by the Steering Committee, chaired by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, on 24 April 2026. This high-level institutional endorsement demonstrates the commitment of Ivorian military authorities to sustainably strengthen women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and promote more gender-responsive security governance.
The launch ceremony will provide an opportunity to officially present the report to senior Ivorian military authorities and mark a new step toward institutional ownership and the gradual implementation of its recommendations. It will bring together representatives of the Government, technical and financial partners, the United Nations system, and civil society organizations.
The recommendations emerging from the assessment provide a concrete roadmap for increasing women’s participation in peacekeeping operations through measures aimed at broadening the pool of women eligible for deployment, addressing institutional and operational barriers, strengthening pre-deployment capacities, and fostering a more enabling environment for participation. These efforts support the ongoing commitment of the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire to a more inclusive contribution to United Nations peace operations.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress in meeting their needs worldwide. In Côte d’Ivoire, UN Women focuses on the following priority areas:
- Governance, women’s political participation and leadership;
- Women’s economic empowerment;
- Ending violence against women and girls;
Women, Peace and Security, and Gender in Humanitarian Action.
About the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF)
Established by the United Nations, Canada, and Member States in 2019, the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) is an innovative multilateral fund designed to accelerate progress toward achieving the United Nations’ gender targets, in line with Security Council resolutions and the 2018–2028 Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS).
The EIF is a United Nations multi-partner trust fund hosted by UN Women and funded through contributions from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.
The Fund supports the sustainable deployment and meaningful participation of women uniformed peacekeepers by providing financial assistance and incentives.