The CLEEN Foundation on Tuesday commenced a three-day stakeholder inception training workshop geared towards strengthening women peace and security (WPS) in Imo.
The workshop will end with the formal launch of a state multi stakeholder implementation and monitoring committee on improving WPS in the state with a view to ending gender based violence and providing solutions to conflicts.
The Executive Director (ED) of the foundation, Mr Peter Maduoma in his opening remarks said that the workshop aims to strengthen WPS in the state through skilled, well-coordinated, and data-driven monitoring across the value chain of peace and conflict resolution.
Maduoma stated that the workshop will focus on formally inaugurating the state multi-stakeholder implementation and monitoring committee in the state.
He added that the workshop will also build the capacity of the committee members on WPS principles, implementation frameworks, and monitoring tools and enhance coordination among government institutions, security agencies, and civil society actors on the WPS agenda.
He added that participants will also develop state-specific implementation and reporting frameworks that align with the National Action Plan on WPS.
The ED went on to state that the foundation expects to have a functional WPS Implementation and Monitoring Committee established and inaugurated at the end of the programme
“Our expected outcomes include a functional WPS implementation and monitoring committee established and inaugurated.
“We will also have improved technical capacity of stakeholders on WPS frameworks, reporting, and accountability mechanisms and development of state-level implementation road maps for WPS Action Plans.
We also expect strengthened collaboration among security agencies, ministries, traditional institutions, and women’s groups and enhanced visibility and commitment of state governments to advance the WPS agenda.”
He commended the Norwegian Embassy for partnering with the foundation and funding the efforts geared towards strengthening WPS in Nigeria and Imo in particular.
Our correspondent reports that the project was inaugurated in Abuja in August ,while state level implementation has commenced in Imo, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna.
Key stakeholders at the workshop include the Imo Correctional Service, representatives of the gender units of the Imo Police command and the NSCDC, and civil society groups.