Learning to be a Gender Focal Point on strategic level
Tailored training for IMS personnel
The International Military Staff (IMS) Gender Advisor team collaborated with NATO’s Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) to deliver Gender Focal Point (GFP) training 4-7 Oct 21 in order to prepare GFPs for their role in the Divisions and independent offices across IMS. 21 participants took part, including one GFP for each IMS division and independent office.
The course represented an important step in the valuable and ongoing effort to support gender mainstreaming at all levels across the organisation. It not only provided the opportunity to educate personnel regarding integration of gender perspective on strategic level, but to also connect GFPs and really foster a network of gender expertise in the IMS.
Within NATO’s Gender Advisory Structure, GFPs form a key element of support for the Gender Advisor (GENAD). In view of the broad variety of topics the NATO Alliance is dealing with, the GFPs provide subject matter expertise to the GENAD and serve as points of contact in the respective divisions and independent offices. The training aimed to equip GFPs for their role by giving them an overview of NATO key directives, how to apply a gendered lens in their daily work, as well as deepen understanding on topics such as Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and capturing Gender-focussed Lessons Learnt.
The ultimate goal of NATOs GFP network is to embed the gender perspective into everything that NATO does, both in HQs and on operations.
For further information, please also find here the CMDR COE’s press release.