Despite several national and international policies promoting gender inclusion in peacebuilding, there has been persistent under-investment in gender-inclusive peace in conflict and post-conflict settings with significant gaps in financing. The chapter examined the financing of women and their inclusion in the Ivorian peacebuilding process. It investigated women’s role during the Ivorian civil wars and their contribution to building peace. Through the qualitative method, with the use of a case study research design, secondary data were sourced and content was analysed. The study revealed that from victims of sexual abuse to forceful conscription as combatants, the role of women during the civil wars remains complex. More so, through formal and informal structures, women were essential to the nation’s efforts during the post-conflict reconstruction period.
The study, however, argues that with the disproportionate representation of women in peace processes, women lack opportunities to influence decision-making about financing priorities. Hence, the importance of involving women and financing them in the peacebuilding process cannot be overemphasized, given that women suffer more losses than men in conflict scenarios. Evidence gathered shows that women remain sidelined in peace processes and by extension were not adequately identified in most financial arrangements when compared to the men.
The study submits that though Côte d’Ivoire ranks as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, its human development levels are low with some of the highest gender inequality rates in the world. This gender gap created by hierarchical structures of patriarchy inadvertently accounts for a low success rate of peacebuilding cases globally. The chapter argues that the non-inclusivity of women in the peacebuilding process affects decisions like inclusive financing which is significant to empowering women after a conflict. It is recommended, therefore, that the National Action Plans (NAPs) and other gender mainstreaming policies in peacebuilding should be reviewed and effectively implemented.
