±«±·°¿°ä°Õ¡¯²õ Global Fusion Cells?Programme aims to equip security officials, particularly analysts, with the tools and knowledge they need to prevent and counter terrorism effectively.
This includes ensuring that security institutions represent diverse perspectives and integrate gender-responsive approaches into their efforts to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism (CT/PCVE).
By providing comprehensive training and support, the Programme has helped strengthen the capacity of security and law enforcement while also contributing to the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in national security institutions across Africa.
Increasing Women¡¯s Participation in Training Activities
In the past five years, the Global Fusion Cells Programme has significantly increased women¡¯s participation in its training activities. While women made up only 10-14 percent of early cohorts ¨C often in administrative or support roles ¨C today nearly one-third of participants are women, all serving as analysts. This progress reflects the Global Fusion Cells Programme¡¯s efforts to set deliberate expectations for training participants, including minimum gender-balance standards, that have encouraged partners to nominate qualified women for advanced analytical training. This progress embodies this year¡¯s International Women¡¯s Day (IWD) vision of justice and action by enabling women and girls to claim their roles as decision-makers, and agents of change. Women¡¯s participation is not only a matter of rights and justice; it is essential to institutional effectiveness, accountability, and transformation.
Advancing Women¡¯s Leadership in Security
The Global Fusion Cells Programme?has also supported women¡¯s advancement within national security institutions. At least twenty?alumnae?have moved into senior roles ¨C including positions as Heads of Departments, heads of analytical counter-terrorism units, and senior analysts. The creation of a cadre of 20 female national trainers, selected on merit and leading complex technical modules, has further helped normalize women¡¯s leadership in highly specialized intelligence functions.?By supporting women¡¯s advancement into technical leadership roles, the Programme reflects the IWD commitment to transforming systems so that women participate fully, equally, and meaningfully in shaping counter-terrorism efforts.
One female participant, who was promoted to Head of the Counter-Terrorism Directorate, shared: ¡°Our Director General has seen the difference in me since attending the Fusion Cells training, and I was promoted. The Analyst course taught by the Programme has been of great importance to me and my career progression.¡±
Another female participant who recently became a manager noted: ¡°What truly stood out for me was the Training-of-Trainer component, which gave me a tremendous boost in confidence. The training not only enhanced my technical skills ¨C it empowered me to use my voice.¡±
The performance of highly experienced female trainers has built credibility within the student group and across their institutions and shifted perceptions of women¡¯s operational and leadership capability. In the closing reflection of the Train-the-Trainer course, a female participant highlighted the direct positive impact of learning under a female and African trainer, noting that this opportunity provided her with a role model and boosted her sense of confidence and strength while navigating a male-dominated workplace.
Strengthening Human-Rights-Based and Gender-Responsive Approaches
To strengthen human rights-based practice within intelligence environments, all participants in the Global Fusion Cells Programme must complete introductory modules on gender and human rights, developed in collaboration with ±«±·°¿°ä°Õ¡¯²õ Human Rights and Gender Section.?
Once met with skepticism, these modules are now consistently rated highly and have improved awareness of international human rights standards and the importance of women¡¯s full, equal, and meaningful participation in counter-terrorism. This shift toward rights-driven learning echoes the IWD 2026 call to build institutions and systems that prevent harm and advance justice for all women and girls.
Taken together, these concrete outcomes underscore ±«±·°¿°ä°Õ¡¯²õ commitment to translating the IWD theme into practice ¨C building counter-terrorism systems that are just, accountable, and shaped by the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and girls.