Senegal implements Project Elsie to boost women in peacekeeping

The Senegalese National Police held a mentorship and psychosocial support workshop on September 4, 2026, as part of Project Elsie. Senegal is the first African nation to benefit from this initiative, which aims to increase the representation and effectiveness of women in international peacekeeping operations.

The workshop included 50 preselected female officers: 35 selected for a Formed Police Unit (FPU) within MONUSCO and 15 individual police officers (IPO) who passed the SAAT examinations. Training focused on operational stress management, female leadership development, and the implementation of psychosocial support mechanisms during deployments.

Currently, women comprise 10.18% of the total National Police force, including 29 female police commissioners. Through Project Elsie, the institution seeks to provide international bodies with inclusive, highly qualified forces prepared for global security challenges.