Our Secure Future Holds Second Regional Convening of the WPS National Action Plan Academy

The second edition of the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan Academy, co-organized by Our Secure Future and UN Women, concluded in Panama with tangible outcomes and strengthened commitments to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda across the region.

From June 24-26, 24 government policymakers and civil society leaders from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama gathered to learn about how to design and implement Women, Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plans (NAPs). 

Organized by Our Secure Future (OSF) and UN Women, the WPS National Action Plan Academy convened these stakeholders to strengthen their capacities and design concrete roadmaps towards the implementation of these NAPs. 

During the three-day workshop, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama, the country delegations participated in sessions on designing results-oriented roadmaps and addressing key elements of WPS NAPs such as theories of change, gender budgeting, strategic design, institutional coordination, localization, and monitoring and evaluation. 

Sahana Dharmapuri Vice President, Our Secure Future, kicked off the Regional Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama.“The National Action Plan Academy’s mission is to create an enabling environment for the effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This program provides practical tools, peer-to-peer learning spaces, and specialized technical accompaniment to government and civil society representatives involved in the development of their National Action Plans,” explained Sahana Dharmapuri, Vice President of Our Secure Future. 

“Through this joint initiative,” added Dharmapuri, “Our Secure Future and UN Women are providing technical training tailored to the needs of each country, building the capacity of decision-makers so that they have the necessary knowledge to create and implement WPS National Action Plans. In addition, the Academy continues to provide technical assistance during the process of developing and implementing the Plans.” 

The Academy has established itself as a catalyst for regional cooperation and learning on Women, Peace and Security since OSF and UN Women organized the first WPS National Action Plan Academy convening in 2024 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Following the first convening, Trinidad and Tobago launched the first WPS National Action Plan in the Caribbean region, paving the way for other countries in the region to strengthen their commitment to this agenda. 

This second convening of the National Action Plan Academy reaffirms the relevance of this joint initiative in the Latin America region and strengthens strategic alliances to reduce violence and promote social cohesion through inclusive public policies. Carlos Guevara Mann, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, participated on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama and highlighted the relevance of the WPS National Action Plan Academy for Panama’s role in the United Nations Security Council.

“The trajectory and principles promoted by the Panamanian State endorse our commitment to global peace and gender equity, which motivates us to a more active participation in multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council,” expressed during his speech the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, Carlos Guevara Mann, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama. 

“Panama firmly believes that the full inclusion of women at all levels of peacebuilding,” the Deputy Minister stressed, “is not only a matter of justice, but a strategic necessity to achieve lasting and sustainable peace in the world.” 

“Without women, there is no sustainable peace. This Academy is more than a training space; it is a platform for action for States to translate the Women, Peace and Security agenda into concrete and funded policies,” said Maria Noel Vaeza, UN Women Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean. “We are proud to witness countries such as Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama taking firm steps towards institutionalizing this agenda.” 

Structural violence, organized crime, political polarization, and forced displacement remain persistent challenges in Latin America. In this context, the implementation of WPS NAPs is crucial for linking humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding through a Women, Peace and Security lens. 

Keri Zolman, Associate Director, Our Secure Future, presenting a session on Monitoring and Evaluation with participants from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama

Learn more about the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan Academy: https://oursecurefuture.org/our-secure-future/project/wps-national-action-plan-academy 

Top photo: Participants of the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan Academy convening at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama. Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama

Second photo: Sahana Dharmapuri Vice President, Our Secure Future, kicked off the Regional Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama. Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama

Third photo: Carlos Guevara Mann, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, participated on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama and highlighted the relevance of the WPS National Action Plan Academy for Panama’s role in the United Nations Security Council. Credit: UN Women/Juan Rangel

Bottom photo: Keri Zolman, Associate Director, Our Secure Future, presenting a session on Monitoring and Evaluation with participants from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. Credit: UN Women/Juan Rangel