The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda aims to elevate women's participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Despite its inception over two decades ago, women remain marginalized in formal peace processes, with many agreements lacking gender-sensitive provisions. This research project delves into the evolving landscape of WPS in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, exploring women's roles and perceptions within this framework.

Through in-depth interviews with grassroots activists, UN officers, and community members, coupled with surveys targeting higher-level stakeholders, we aim to illuminate the adoption and localization of the WPS agenda in the MENA region. Case studies from select countries will offer insights into regional dynamics and the political utility of the WPS agenda for local women. Our interdisciplinary research team emphasizes collaboration with scholars and practitioners from the MENA region through our Global Fellows program. By centering the voices of those most affected, we strive to validate our findings and promote localized perspectives in humanitarian studies.

This project is generously funded by a Pembroke Faculty Seed Grant.