Panafrican centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC)
The PanAfrican Centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC), established in 2005 by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) in Senegal, is a center of excellence dedicated to building the capacity of women and youth in gender, peacebuilding, and development. It offers intensive training, including a Master’s program in Gender and Peacebuilding (GECOP) in partnership with Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) and UPEACE, promoting "African solutions to African problems".
Along the years the PanAfrican Centre for Gender Peace and Development (PAC) has therefore become a significant arm of Femmes Africa Solidarité, providing advanced training and research in peacebuilding and development issues with an emphasis on gender
During the year 2017; the PAC has trained more than 200 people made up of women, young people from civil society; journalists and security professionals throughout different projects. This year’s activity report reflects the efforts of the PAC to respond to its vocation and triggered various processes to become a more autonomous center.
Produce research and policy analysis on gender and peacebuilding
Objectives
Support leadership development and training for women peacebuilder
Facilitate dialogue between policymakers, civil society, and academic institutions
Promote knowledge exchange on best practices in gender-responsive governance
Training Peacekeepers on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence in Senegal
The pilot project “Training Peacekeepers on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence in Senegal” was implemented from 2016 to June 2017 by the PanAfrican Centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC) in collaboration with Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS).
Funded by the British Embassy Dakar, with support from the Embassy of Japan in Senegal and the African Union Commission Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, the program strengthened the capacities of Senegalese defense and security personnel to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations.
The initiative contributed to the training and empowerment of officers, military personnel, and police forces by equipping them with practical knowledge, analytical tools, and case-management skills to effectively address sexual violence.
The project also supported the implementation of the United Nations and African Union “zero tolerance” policies against sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, reinforcing accountability and professional standards within security institutions.
A distinctive feature of the program was its inclusive training model, which brought together civil society organizations, grassroots women leaders, police officers, and military experts in a collaborative learning environment.
Through this approach, the project strengthened institutional capacity, promoted gender-responsive security practices, and advanced professional conduct within Senegal’s defense and security forces.
The harmonization and validation workshop on the training module
The training of trainer’s workshops,
The training workshop replication and the appropriation session.
Africa Gender Forum Award (AGFA)
Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) and its Pan-African Center for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC), in partnership with the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network, established the African Gender Forum Award (AGFA) – African Excellence on Gender to recognize outstanding leadership in advancing gender equality on the continent.
Created in 2005, AGFA is a biennial award ceremony that honors African Heads of State and leaders who have demonstrated remarkable progress in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment, in line with the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in 2004.
After a pause following its 2011 edition, the African Gender Forum Award resumed in 2017. The relaunch followed several months of research assessing the performance of African countries in gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as two high-level consultative meetings held in Addis Ababa.
The AGFA Selection Committee, composed of eminent personalities and leading experts in gender and development, unanimously selected the Republic of Namibia and its President, Hage Gottfried Geingob, as the award recipients in recognition of their strong commitment and measurable progress in advancing gender equality.