Mwanamke Imara 2025 Newsletter
- yowpsudorg
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
Welcome to the first edition of the Mwanamke Imara Newsletter, highlighting our journey, milestones, and impact throughout 2025. Mwanamke Imara is a flagship initiative implemented by Youth and Women for Peace and Sustainable Development (YOWPSUD) in partnership with Search for Common Ground, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in preventing and countering violent extremism within state security and justice institutions across Coastal Kenya.
This edition captures key activities, achievements, lessons learned, and the growing role of women as leaders, mentors, and change-makers in peace and security.
Mwanamke Imara seeks to:
Empower women in security and justice institutions with leadership and PCVE skills
Promote gender-responsive, community-centered approaches to security
Strengthen collaboration between state institutions, civil society, and communities
Amplify women’s voices in county and national PCVE frameworks
In 2025, the project was implemented primarily in Kilifi and Kwale Counties, with strategic engagements extending to Garissa.
2025 at a Glance – Key Highlights
Project inception and official county launches in Kilifi and Kwale
Leadership and gender sensitivity trainings for women and men in security and justice institutions
Specialized PCVE capacity building for women officers
Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) for partners
Active participation of Mwanamke Imara women in the remodeling of the Kilifi County Action Plan (KCAP) on PCVE
Strengthened collaboration with county governments, NCTC, and justice actors
Key Activities & Achievements
June – August 2025 | Foundation & Capacity Building Phase
Project Inception & County Launches (June–July 2025)
The project officially kicked off with courtesy visits and inception meetings across Kilifi and Kwale, followed by high-level county launch events. These engagements introduced Mwanamke Imara to government stakeholders, justice and security institutions, civil society, and the media, building early ownership and trust.
Impact:
Established strong entry points with county governments and justice institutions
Positioned YOWPSUD as a trusted grassroots implementing partner
Laid the foundation for women’s inclusion in PCVE decision-making spaces
Gender Sensitivity & Women’s Leadership Trainings (July 2025)
A series of gender sensitivity and human rights trainings targeted male officers, while leadership trainings empowered women officers from the military, judiciary, prisons, probation, NGAOs, and CSOs.
Impact:
Over 70 security and justice actors engaged across both counties
Increased awareness among male officers on the value of women’s leadership in PCVE
Strengthened confidence, solidarity, and leadership identity among women officers
Many participants described the trainings as their first opportunity to openly engage on leadership, gender, and security in a supportive environment.
Hostile Environment Awareness Training – Garissa (August 2025)
In partnership with Search for Common Ground, YOWPSUD staff participated in a three-day HEAT training designed to enhance safety, preparedness, and decision-making in volatile environments.
Impact:
- Improved risk mitigation and emergency response capacity
- Strengthened resilience of partner organizations operating in high-risk contexts
Specialized PCVE Trainings – Kwale & Kilifi (August 2025)
Specialized PCVE trainings, facilitated by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), focused on equipping women officers with practical tools to address radicalization, early warning, and community engagement.
Impact:
- 40 women officers trained across Kwale and Kilifi
- Improved understanding of local and international violent extremism dynamics
- Reinforced women’s roles as early warning agents, community connectors, and institutional leaders
Women’s Leadership in County PCVE Frameworks
A major milestone in 2025 was the active participation of Mwanamke Imara women in the Kilifi County Action Plan (KCAP) remodeling process. Five women from security and justice institutions contributed directly to shaping county PCVE priorities.
Impact:
- Women’s leadership and capacity building formally integrated into the KCAP
- Strengthened visibility of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda
- Increased sustainability and resource mobilization potential for Mwanamke Imara
Mentorship, Reflection & Regional Engagements (October – December 2025)
During the last quarter of 2025, Mwanamke Imara transitioned into deeper mentorship, reflection, and policy engagement phases. Structured online mentorship sessions were conducted across Kilifi and Kwale Counties, focusing on confidence building, goal setting, time management, and leadership effectiveness among women in security and justice institutions.
In November 2025, YOWPSUD, together with Search for Common Ground and Action Life, convened a quarterly reflection workshop in Watamu, bringing together consortium partners, women leaders, and security and justice actors. The session reviewed conflict trends, safeguarding risks, project progress, and women’s growing influence in County Engagement Forums and policy processes.
YOWPSUD was also selected to participate in a regional strategic communications forum for women in PCVE held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, supported by IGAD. This engagement strengthened regional learning, counter-narrative development, and collaboration among women peace and security practitioners.
Impact:
- Over 80 women mentees engaged through virtual mentorship sessions
- Increased confidence, self-awareness, and leadership agency among participants
- Strengthened women’s participation in county PCVE and policy spaces
- Regional recognition of YOWPSUD within women-led PCVE networks
Safeguarding, GBV & Digital Safety Advocacy (November – December 2025)
Aligning with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Mwanamke Imara actively engaged in discussions and digital advocacy addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Technology-Facilitated GBV (TFGBV). Through Peace Impact Framework sessions and social media campaigns, the project amplified awareness on emerging digital risks affecting women leaders.
Context & Why Mwanamke Imara Matters
Throughout 2025, Kilifi and Kwale counties experienced evolving security challenges, including youth unemployment, gang activity, religious radicalization, and concerns around violent extremism and child vulnerability. Women consistently voiced fears of losing young people to radicalization and the lack of child-sensitive PCVE frameworks.
Mwanamke Imara responds to these realities by:
Positioning women as frontline prevention actors
Bridging gaps between communities and state institutions
Integrating gender and child-sensitive approaches into PCVE efforts
Key Results & Learning
100% completion of planned 2025 foundational activities
Strong collaboration with County Commissioners’ offices and national actors
Increased demand for mentorship, psychosocial skills, and advanced PCVE training
Recognition of the critical but underutilized role of County Inspectorate officers in early warning
Key Lesson: Empowering women within security and justice institutions strengthens trust, improves early detection of risks, and enhances community-centered responses to violent extremism.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, Mwanamke Imara will focus on:
Expanding mentorship and peer-learning platforms for women leaders
Deepening engagement with county and national PCVE frameworks
Integrating child safety and psychosocial support into PCVE trainings
Strengthening partnerships with prisons, reintegration offices, and inspectorate services
Appreciation
We extend our sincere appreciation to High Commission of Canada in Kenya, Search for Common Ground, county and national government partners, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, civil society actors, and most importantly, the courageous women leaders who continue to shape safer, more inclusive communities.
Together, we are building a future where women lead peace, security, and resilience.
Published by: Youth and Women for Peace and Sustainable Development (YOWPSUD)
Project: Mwanamke Imara
Year: 2025
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