This report summarises ongoing and planned gender mainstreaming activities across MAG’s programmes in the West Africa region and draws lessons learned from MAG’s efforts in this area. It is intended for a range of stakeholders engaged in arms control, weapons and ammunition management (WAM) and broader armed violence reduction (AVR), who are also making efforts to deliver more inclusive programmes of work, including other implementers, security sector stakeholders, policymakers, and donors.
Considering gender leads to an inclusive approach that takes into account the different needs, perspectives, and lived experiences of women, girls, men and boys, and has a series of positive effects.
MAG will continue to work with key stakeholders to support development and rollout of gender policies and action plans with the aim of reducing barriers to women’s participation in WAM, including in decision-making roles.
We are excited to share our recent report on Gender and Armed Violence Reduction, as part of our work to deepen our focus on gender and inclusion, with particular attention paid to women in the security sector in West Africa. Lessons learned from this report highlight that our WAM intervention efforts will only succeed if programme delivery takes account of the gendered impacts of arms acquisition, use, and misuse in affected areas. The gender perspectives within our programmes have allowed MAG to identify and listen to voices and perspectives that are often overlooked, and to be creative in enabling women to participate meaningfully.
Anne AkelloGender and Inclusion Advisor
