DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION of National Action Plans ...

••Ownership – The process of drafting a plan is also a process of awareness-raising andcapacity building as it opens up space to discuss, exchange information and hold seminarsand trainings on WPS issues in order to strengthen understanding of commitment togender equality and implementation of UNSCR 1325. This participatory process will bringabout a sense of ownership and responsibility when it comes to the implementation ofthe NAPs. It is important that the NAPs outline the responsibility of all actors and includea framework for funding and M & E.••Accountability – with the increased awareness and a sense of ownership comeinstitutional and personal accountability for implementing the NAPs. As the plan listsspecific actor’s responsibility for implementing each initiative and provide a cleartimeframe, the actors can be held publicly accountable for its implementation. On abroader level, the act of creating NAPs brings an official stamp of approval and holdsthe country accountable for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions••Development of NAPs will make the work more efficient by spending the limitedresources in a sustainable way by prioritizing a few areas and focusing on them.••Increased relevance – NAPs can be a way of pulling out the relevant parts of UNSCR 1325and bringing them to national processes and frameworks making the resolution relevantto domestic and foreign policy making••Monitoring and Evaluation – a plan of action will facilitate the M & E process byproviding objectives, benchmarks and indicators which can enhance implementationand increased accountability. Realistic and clear work plans often can increase theeffectiveness of M & E.Who should be Implementing UNSCR 1325?••All member states that have signed international agreements and protocols includingresolutions on prevention and responding to VAW both during times of peace, times ofwar and post-conflict situations are bound by them. Unfortunately, of the 192 memberstates of the United Nations, only 42 have developed and adopted NAPs (Annex).••The United Nations is also expected to implement UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions.Who should develop NAPs within Member States?••NAPs should be developed by and for a government to translate the provisions of UNSCR1325 into actions to be carried out by different ministries, departments, councils/districtsand commissions.••And although, government institutions are always at the fore front of the developmentof NAPs, CSOs, academic institutions, collaborating governments and other actors canalso be involved. It is better that NAPs are a product of a collaborative process betweengovernment and non-governmental organizations as engaging actors with differentroles and functions can contribute to a planning process that takes into account a varietyof different perspectives. This can in turn make the resulting NAPs more inclusive andincrease the level of ownership and commitment to implementation.9