Amplifying Women’s Voices in Peace and Security: Alliances for Africa (AfA) Launches State-Level Initiative in Imo State, Nigeria

Amplifying Women’s Voices in Peace and Security: Alliances for Africa (AfA) Launches State-Level Initiative in Imo State, Nigeria

On June 27, 2025, Alliances for Africa (AfA), a women-led NGO focused on advancing gender justice, human rights, peace, and sustainable development, launched an essential new initiative titled:

“Empowering Women’s Voices in Peace and Security Policy Dialogues at the Local Level through the Development of a State Action Plan (SAP) for Implementing the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325.”

The project was inaugurated with a one-day Stakeholder Mapping Consultation and Project Inception Workshop, generously funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF).

This ambitious initiative aims to localize the 3rd Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) by creating a comprehensive State Action Plan (SAP) for Imo State. AfA’s goal is to enhance women’s leadership, promote their involvement in community peacebuilding efforts, and ensure their meaningful participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict governance.

The inception workshop served as a strategic gathering to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the project’s goals and to foster collective momentum towards inclusive peace and security. Key discussions addressed gender-specific challenges in peacebuilding, the critical need for women’s representation in decision-making roles, and how localizing policies can drive transformative change at the grassroots level.

“Peace without women is not sustainable peace.” This project is dedicated to ensuring that women are not only protected but also recognized as vital agents of peace within their communities.

We are reaching out to our esteemed partners and allies, including ActionAid Nigeria, the UN Trust Fund (UNTF), UN Women, Ford Foundation, USAID, and others, to support this important initiative as we advance the WPS agenda and develop a comprehensive State Action Plan (SAP) for Imo State.

Your support will help ensure that the structures we establish are both inclusive and enduring.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to AWDF for their crucial support in launching this groundbreaking endeavour in Imo State.

As we embark on this transformative journey, we remain committed to ensuring that the voices of women in Imo State are not only heard but also meaningfully integrated into peace and security frameworks. The development of a State Action Plan represents a significant step toward institutionalizing gender equality in peacebuilding efforts.

Now, more than ever, it is time to transition from policy to practice, from national commitments to local impact.

We invite our partners, donors, and stakeholders to join us on this path, to invest in the leadership, resilience, and agency of women who are shaping peaceful and secure communities.

Together, let us transform action into lasting change.