By Chigozie Uzosike
Women are often among those most affected by insecurity, conflict and violence, yet they remain underrepresented in decisions concerning peace and community security. In response, the Women, Peace and Security State Multi-Stakeholder Implementation Monitoring Committee (WPS-SMIMC), with support from the CLEEN Foundation and the Norwegian Embassy, is piloting a community-based approach to strengthening women’s leadership in peacebuilding across Imo State.
The initiative is establishing women-led peace structures in three communities representing the state’s three senatorial zones: Ulo-Ano in Isu LGA, Umukaku in Isiala Mbano LGA, and Umuonyeche in Owerri Municipal LGA. Rather than imposing structures on communities, the process places community ownership at its centre, with community leaders and stakeholders identifying, validating and supporting women peace actors and male He-for-She allies.
Across the three communities, 36 women and nine male allies were selected and validated to serve as community peace actors. Their roles include identifying early signs of conflict, supporting dialogue and mediation, promoting women’s participation in decision-making, preventing gender-based violence, and referring cases that require formal intervention to the appropriate authorities.
The three communities, however, brought different dimensions to the initiative. In Ulo-Ano, the emphasis was on practical peace action. Community stakeholders welcomed the opportunity to strengthen early warning, conflict prevention and referral mechanisms, particularly for serious cases such as child abuse, rape and substance abuse.
In Umukaku, the process highlighted the importance of legitimacy and continuity. Community members recalled that women had previously established a peace committee but that it had not received adequate support. The new initiative therefore offers an opportunity to renew and strengthen existing women’s peacebuilding capacities through formal community recognition and institutional support.
In Umuonyeche, the engagement brought the question of gender norms and women’s leadership more sharply into focus. While community stakeholders expressed support for the initiative, discussions also revealed traditional perceptions that can limit women’s participation in community leadership such as questioning why any woman should be a member of the Traditional Leadership Cabinet. This reinforces the importance of engaging men not simply as supporters, but as genuine allies in creating space for women’s leadership.
A key lesson from the three engagements is that women already possess significant capacities for peacebuilding within their communities. What is often needed is recognition, legitimacy, organization, skills, referral pathways and sustained institutional support to connect these capacities to wider peace and security systems.
The initiative also demonstrates that community validation can transform women’s participation from an individual effort into a recognized community responsibility. By bringing women peace actors, male allies and community leaders together, the model creates a three-way partnership for local peacebuilding.
The next phase will focus on moving these structures from formation to action through monitoring, capacity strengthening, community dialogue, early-warning mechanisms and stronger links with relevant government and protection institutions.
The experiences of Ulo-Ano, Umukaku and Umuonyeche demonstrate that peacebuilding does not begin only in formal institutions. It can begin in community halls, among women who are already responding to local challenges, and with men willing to use their influence to support women’s leadership. With sustained support, these emerging community structures can provide a locally owned pathway towards more inclusive, peaceful and resilient communities in Imo State
Women are often among those most affected by insecurity, conflict and violence, yet they remain underrepresented in decisions concerning peace and community security.
In response, the Women, Peace and Security State Multi-Stakeholder Implementation Monitoring Committee (WPS-SMIMC), with support from the CLEEN Foundation and the Norwegian Embassy, is piloting a community-based approach to strengthening women’s leadership in peacebuilding across Imo State.
The initiative is establishing women-led peace structures in three communities representing the state’s three senatorial zones: Ulo-Ano in Isu LGA, Umukaku in Isiala Mbano LGA, and Umuonyeche in Owerri Municipal LGA. Rather than imposing structures on communities, the process places community ownership at its centre, with community leaders and stakeholders identifying, validating and supporting women peace actors and male He-for-She allies.
Across the three communities, 36 women and nine male allies were selected and validated to serve as community peace actors. Their roles include identifying early signs of conflict, supporting dialogue and mediation, promoting women’s participation in decision-making, preventing gender-based violence, and referring cases that require formal intervention to the appropriate authorities.
The three communities, however, brought different dimensions to the initiative. In Ulo-Ano, the emphasis was on practical peace action. Community stakeholders welcomed the opportunity to strengthen early warning, conflict prevention and referral mechanisms, particularly for serious cases such as child abuse, rape and substance abuse.
In Umukaku, the process highlighted the importance of legitimacy and continuity. Community members recalled that women had previously established a peace committee but that it had not received adequate support. The new initiative therefore offers an opportunity to renew and strengthen existing women’s peacebuilding capacities through formal community recognition and institutional support.
In Umuonyeche, the engagement brought the question of gender norms and women’s leadership more sharply into focus.
While community stakeholders expressed support for the initiative, discussions also revealed traditional perceptions that can limit women’s participation in community leadership such as questioning why any woman should be a member of the Traditional Leadership Cabinet.
This reinforces the importance of engaging men not simply as supporters, but as genuine allies in creating space for women’s leadership.
A key lesson from the three engagements is that women already possess significant capacities for peacebuilding within their communities. What is often needed is recognition, legitimacy, organization, skills, referral pathways and sustained institutional support to connect these capacities to wider peace and security systems.
The initiative also demonstrates that community validation can transform women’s participation from an individual effort into a recognized community responsibility. By bringing women peace actors, male allies and community leaders together, the model creates a three-way partnership for local peacebuilding.
The next phase will focus on moving these structures from formation to action through monitoring, capacity strengthening, community dialogue, early-warning mechanisms and stronger links with relevant government and protection institutions.
The experiences of Ulo-Ano, Umukaku and Umuonyeche demonstrate that peacebuilding does not begin only in formal institutions. It can begin in community halls, among women who are already responding to local challenges, and with men willing to use their influence to support women’s leadership. With sustained support, these emerging community structures can provide a locally owned pathway towards more inclusive, peaceful and resilient communities in Imo State
