WPS Training for PCW Reviewers, NSCWPS Agencies, and RGADC

In 2024, Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), in collaboration with National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security (NSC WPS), and the UN Women commenced the development of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP WPS) 2023-2033 Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Plan and Framework. This process included consultation sessions, bilateral meetings, and validation workshops. At present, the Plan and Framework, along with an Indicator Handbook, are being cascaded to the member agencies of the NSCWPS, and civil society as they take on the role of the MEAL Technical Working Group of the NAP WPS 2023-2033.

As the NSC WPS moves to implement these policy documents, it is important to ascertain their level of understanding of WPS, and to gauge any gaps in order to ensure that operationalization proceeds smoothly. The mandate of PCW’s Gender Specialists thus includes helping to ensure the WPS dimension is addressed in these government agencies’ GAD mainstreaming, however, Gender Specialists may face challenges in realizing this in view of staffing constraints and tight review timelines. More importantly, they may have limited capacity to identify and assess WPS PAPs in the agency submissions, especially for those whose gender training did not include a significant WPS component–and the same could be true to GAD encoders from different member agencies of the NSC WPS.

Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2014-01 mandates member agencies of the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security (NSC WPS) to integrate WPS programs, activities and projects (PAPs) in their GAD Plans and Budgets (GPBs), as well as their GAD Accomplishment Reports. Further, this JMC mandates OPAPRU to “provide agencies capacity development training on gender-sensitive conflict analysis…as well as on UNSCRs 1325/1820 and NAPWPS orientation, planning, programming, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.”

As part of UN Women’s ongoing support the NSCWPS, UN Women and OPAPRU are proposing a 2-day training-workshop on WPS for PCW Gender Specialists and NSCWPS GAD Plans and Budget encoders. This activity will include a half-day introductory module on Gender-Responsive Conflict Analysis focusing on the Philippine context, followed by a 1.5-day module on Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting, anchored on the NAPWPS 2023-2033 MEAL Plan, Framework, and Indicator Handbook.

Objectives

This training workshop aims to achieve the following:

• Strengthen Understanding of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and Its Integration into Gender Mainstreaming

• Enhance Skills in Gender-Responsive Conflict Analysis and Planning

• Build Capacity for Effective Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) in WPS