Strengthening Implementation of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace, and Security at National levels – “NAP Academy” Training Workshop

The adoption of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security (RPA WPS) in November,  marked a significant step forward in advancing WPS across the region. This landmark policy framework has been complemented by the proactive measures taken by several ASEAN Member States to localise the RPA WPS and develop NAPs on Women, Peace, and Security, including Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam, and more recently Cambodia has expressed a strong interest to localize the WPS agenda. This includes efforts towards the development and implementation of National Action Plans on WPS with robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, the clarification of roles and responsibilities, and the enhancement of coordination among stakeholders.

Moreover as part of the ongoing efforts to implement the ASEAN RPA WPS, the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR), in partnership and collaboration with UN Women through the regional project “Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: Preventing Violence and Promoting Social Cohesion in ASEAN,” held a series of four learning sessions on WPS-related topics. These sessions were designed to strengthen the capacity of the ASEAN Women Peace Registry and representatives from ASEAN sectoral bodies and institutions to facilitate the implementation of the ASEAN RPA WPS with the overarching goal of advancing the implementation of the ASEAN RPA WPS. Through these sessions, participants were equipped with heightened awareness and a deeper understanding of key concepts and frameworks on WPS, drawing insights from exemplary practices and lessons gleaned from diverse international and local WPS practitioners operating at both policy and grassroots levels. These initiatives gained further momentum with the development of the Localisation Toolkit and Guidelines for the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security by ACW Cambodia in partnership with UN Women in December 2023, underscoring ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to advancing the localization process.

Building upon the invaluable insights gleaned from the WPS learning sessions held throughout 2023 and early 2024 by the ASEAN-IPR, and following the recent milestone achievement of the development and launch of the Localisation Toolkit and Guidelines for the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace, and Security, ASEAN-IPR and UN Women are strategically poised to organize a pivotal regional workshop.

This workshop is meticulously designed to target: i) ASEAN Member States (AMS) that are already engaged in the development and/or implementation of WPS NAPs; and ii) AMS that are interested in exploring opportunities for localizing the RPA-WPS at the national level. In line with these ongoing efforts, the upcoming training workshop aims to leverage and build upon existing initiatives by equipping focal points from Line Ministries entrusted with the pivotal task of developing and implementing these National Action Plans with the necessary skills and knowledge to mainstream gender considerations and implement WPS NAPs effectively. In addition, the workshop will also provide an opportunity for the focal points of other AMS that are interested in the localization of RPA on WPS to have a learning opportunity through networking and exchange of knowledge with other AMS.

Through interactive sessions and in-depth discussions, participants will explore avenues for identifying synergies and aligning priorities between NAPs and the ASEAN RPA on WPS. Drawing on insights from regional experiences and global best practices, this collaborative approach seeks to lay the groundwork for developing comprehensive and sustainable WPS national frameworks.

Objectives:

Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, attendees will gain skills and knowledge to enhance their capacity in WPS implementation at the national level.  The primary objectives of the workshop are:

1. Enhance the skills and knowledge of focal points from Line Ministries responsible for developing and implementing WPS NAP. This includes improving coordination mechanisms and aligning NAP objectives with those of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action (RPA) on WPS developing M&E and coordination mechanisms for implementing the NAPs WPS. This includes promoting the alignment of M&E frameworks of NAPs with the ASEAN RPA on WPS to ensure streamlined implementation and effective progress tracking.
2. Foster collaboration among ASEAN member states, facilitating the exchange of experiences and good practices in WPS implementation. By promoting dialogue and sharing insights, the workshop aims to strengthen regional cooperation and collective efforts towards advancing the WPS agenda.
3. Support the implementation and dissemination of the Localisation Toolkit and Guidelines for the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security to facilitate the development and implementation of WPS NAPs.
4. Provide specific, actionable guidance and resources aimed at assisting organizations in creating and executing National Action Plans (NAPs) within their institutions.

Note: Participation is by invitations only.