TRANSFORM – The magazine for gender-responsive evaluation – Issue 30, July 2025

This issue of TRANSFORM presents a comprehensive evaluation of UN Women’s support to women’s participation in peace processes, covering the period from 2018 to 2023. The issue delves into how UN Women has advanced the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda by amplifying women’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts across diverse global contexts.

The evaluation identifies five key mechanisms through which UN Women contributes to change:

• building strategic relationships,
• convening stakeholders,
• fostering awareness and commitment,
• supporting women’s civil society influence, and
• embedding WPS principles within institutions.

These mechanisms have proven effective in enhancing women’s roles in peace processes, particularly when tailored to local dynamics and sustained through institutional capacity-building.

Drawing on 11 case studies and more than 300 documents, the evaluation highlights both achievements and challenges. It underscores the importance of political acumen, inclusive engagement, and context-specific strategies to navigate resistance and backlash against gender equality.

The issue also offers actionable recommendations to strengthen UN Women’s partnerships, internal capacities, and advocacy efforts. As the world marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325, this issue serves as a timely reflection and call to action. It emphasizes the need for renewed commitment to inclusive peacebuilding and provides valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates working to ensure women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in peace processes.