Localising women, peace and security agenda in Niger and Benue states.

Across many conflict-affected communities in Nigeria, decisions about peace and security are often made far from the women and communities most affected by violence, climate pressures, and insecurity. Despite Nigeria adopting national commitments under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), translating these commitments into meaningful action at state and community levels has remained a challenge.

Weak institutional systems, limited political will, inadequate funding, and low awareness of WPS commitments have slowed progress. In addition, women have often remained excluded from decision-making spaces where peace and security policies are developed and implemented.

Through the SPRiNG Programme, efforts are underway to strengthen the localisation of the WPS agenda in Niger and Benue States, ensuring that women’s participation in peacebuilding and security governance is supported by both policy frameworks and sustainable financing.

Intervention Highlights

SPRiNG supported government authorities to strengthen the integration of WPS priorities into state and local governance systems, linking action planning with gender-responsive budgeting and financing. This approach ensures that commitments to women’s participation in peace and security are not only documented in policies but also backed by resources for implementation.

In Benue State—where a State Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 already exists—the programme focused on developing Local Action Plans in conflict-affected Local Government Areas to address community-level priorities and strengthen coordination among stakeholders.

In Niger State, where no State Action Plan previously existed, SPRiNG supported the development of frameworks and stakeholder engagement processes to increase awareness of WPS commitments and strengthen institutional capacity.

Unlike previous approaches that primarily engaged agencies focused on women’s issues, SPRiNG promoted multi-sector collaboration, bringing together a wider range of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to embed WPS priorities across sectors.

Key Achievements

• Strengthened integration of Women, Peace and Security priorities into state and sectoral planning processes

• Support for Local Action Plans in conflict-affected LGAs in Benue State

• Increased awareness and institutional engagement with the WPS agenda in Niger State

• Enhanced coordination among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on gender and peacebuilding priorities

• Promotion of gender-responsive financing to support sustainable implementation of WPS commitments

Impact

By strengthening institutional collaboration and linking policy commitments to concrete financing mechanisms, the initiative is helping ensure that women’s participation in peacebuilding is not only recognised but also supported through sustainable governance structures.

The localisation process is creating pathways for women to influence peace and security decisions at state and community levels, improving coordination among institutions and strengthening accountability for WPS commitments.

Ultimately, this work demonstrates that locally owned, evidence-informed approaches to the Women, Peace and Security agenda can strengthen peacebuilding outcomes for women, girls, and communities across Nigeria.

Read the full case study to learn how SPRiNG is supporting the localisation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Niger and Benue States.