Mariana Llorens Zabala
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Mariana was a Research Fellow at NUPI until January 2026, working on the Training for Peace Programme, in the Research group on Peace, Conflict and Development.
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Clear all filtersWomen’s participation and influence in peace processes and implementation of peace agreements in Colombia and South Sudan
This report analyses women’s presence and influence in the peace processes and implementation of peace agreements in Colombia and South Sudan. It demonstrates how women’s organisations and women leaders succeeded in breaking barriers and influencing both the process dynamics and more concrete outcomes in both processes. The report further analyses how Norwegian support contributed to women’s participation and influence in these processes. The report identifies key enabling factors and supporting actions that contribute to enhancing women’s influence. We suggest that when planning support for women’s participation and influence, in order to achieve more impact external actors should design interventions around enabling factors and supporting actions, and combine different types of support. Based on the research and analysis in this report, we present a set of recommendations for external actors who aim to support and contribute to women’s influence in peace processes.
The Gambia Has Decided: A model for intervention, or a missed opportunity?
Recent years have seen increased instances of democratic backsliding across West Africa, particularly through military coups. This Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the African Union (AU), can work proactively together to strengthen democratisation processes. Against this backdrop, this report presents an in-depth case study on The Gambia. In particular, it evaluates the AU- and ECOWAS-led interventions that followed the country’s elections in 2016. In the course of its assessment, the study articulates insights for Africa-led interventions. These draw on an array of tools, including mediation, political missions and military pressure. Another key focus of the report is the changing nature of partnerships between the AU and regional economic communities (RECs) as part of their responses to political crises. This includes examining the extent to which the AU and ECOWAS coordinated efforts to address the constitutional crisis that followed the disputed outcome of the December 2016 polls. The study culminates in a series of key findings. Among these is that the principle of subsidiarity remains ambiguously defined; that coordination between the AU and ECOWAS was uneven and at times duplicative; and that national ownership in The Gambia was insufficiently embedded in the reform process. This suggests that while ECOWAS´ visible and robust intervention was decisive in restoring constitutional order, the AU´s more technical engagement lacked visibility and sustainability. Both actors struggled to align their support in a coherent and mutually reinforcing manner. Over time, this served to reduce how both organisations were able to act as continuous and legitimate actors in the country. These findings offer guidance on how the AU and RECs could partner more effectively to address crises in Africa. Clarifying subsidiarity is a key step. While the term is widely used by the AU and RECs, the key questions of subsidiarity — such as the political dimensions it entails; and how the AU and ECOWAS could jointly address a lack of political will at the member state level — remain unresolved. Other areas of guidance defined in the report include strengthening joint planning and communication; and ensuring that balanced attention is given not only to immediate security concerns, but also longterm governance reform. The study concludes that without deeper institutionalised coordination mechanisms and stronger political will from both continental and national actors, the sustainability of such interventions will remain limited.
Climate, peace and security in stabilization contexts in the Sahel
The Sahel region faces a deepening crisis from conflict, insecurity and the increasingly pronounced effects of climate change and environmental degradation. Three countries in the Sahel, Chad, Niger and Mali, rank among the seven most vulnerable countries to climate change. The region is very susceptible to recurrent droughts, land, biodiversity degradation, and erratic rainfall patterns, the compounded effects of which have propelled a severe degradation of agriculture, rangelands, and water resources, exacerbated food and water insecurity and driven displacements. Climate-related challenges intertwine with a complex socio-political security situation and political economy marked by conflicts, crises, violent extremism, terrorism, transnational organized crime and clashes over natural resources. Climate impacts and the related security risks are crucial in understanding the complex multidimensional crisis in the Sahel and offer an important lens for the analysis of the root causes of insecurities. This document summarizes the proceedings of the Regional Experts Workshop - La Somone, Senegal, March 2024 and High-level Partnerships Forum New York, USA, April 2024, which were convened in partnership with the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), Liptako-Gourma Authority (LGA), African Union Commission (AUC), Climate commission for the Sahel Region (CCRS), the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), UNOCA and UNOWAS via the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM). Both featured technical and high-level segments, bringing together over 250 stakeholders through a combination of in-person and hybrid sessions to understand how climate, peace and security approaches can complement ongoing stabilization efforts in the Sahel. Sincere thanks are extended to H.E. Abdou Abarry, Zinurine Abiodu Alghali, Chika Charles Aniekwe, H.E. Hawa Aw, H.E. Issifi Boureima, Blerta Cela, Tendai Kasinganeti, H.E. Mamman Nuhu, Andrew E. Yaw Tchie, Elvis Tangem, and their teams for their contributions to the proceedings. The communiqué and outcome report were prepared under the overall direction and supervision of Njoya Tikum, Director of UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West Africa and the Sahel, and Catherine Wong, Team Leader, Climate and Security Risk, by Serena Arcone, with contributions from Eri Yamasumi, Sierge Ndjekouneyom, Pascal Yaka, Mabaye Dia, Galiné Yanon and with thanks to Pierre Bengono, Anab Grand and Lieneh Modalal for their support throughout the process.
Safeguarding the WPS Agenda across Africa amid a Changing Global Order
Over the past 25 years, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has gained increasing prominence at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). UNSC engagement has focused primarily on the protection of women and girls – rather than on prevention or effective participation. Further, implementation of the agenda has been inconsistent and uneven across mandates. More recently, geopolitical tensions, a rise in authoritarian politics and escalating anti-feminist sentiment have further undermined the WPS agenda – often subordinating it to domestic political dynamics. This policy brief examines the state of the WPS agenda against a backdrop of dwindling donor funding and shifting global priorities. It reflects on key achievements by local women’s networks across Africa and considers how gains may be sustained and the agenda advanced amid new political and financial constraints. It argues that promoting the WPS agenda in an increasingly volatile political order requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the challenges posed by global conflict, inequality and authoritarian resurgence. This includes strengthening existing frameworks, expanding the scope of the agenda to address a broader range of issues and ensuring that women’s voices are meaningfully included in decision-making related to peace and security.
Training for Peace 2025 - 2028 (TfP)
In its new phase (2025-2028) the TfP will strengthen its partnership and collaboration with the African Union, by providing applied research, policy support and capacity-building. ...
Unpacking the Nexus between Stabilization and Climate, Peace and Security
This policy paper explores the evolving nexus between stabilization and climate, peace, and security (CPS) in conflict-affected settings, particularly in Africa. It examines how stabilization has been interpreted and implemented through UN peacekeeping operations, African-led interventions, civilian-led efforts, and emerging climate stabilization approaches. Recognizing the increasingly complex interlinkages between environmental degradation, fragility, and insecurity, the paper calls for an adaptive stabilization framework that integrates CPS perspectives. Through case studies in the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako Gourma, the paper illustrates how adaptive, people-centered, and context-specific interventions can strengthen resilience and support sustainable peace. Recommendations are offered to guide the integration of CPS into stabilization strategies, ensuring more coherent, accountable, and inclusive responses to multifaceted risks.
Climate security, natural resource conflict, and community resilience in the Lake Chad Basin: A review of the literature
Climate change and environmental degradation are exacerbating the challenges faced by populations in the Lake Chad region, most of whom rely on farming, fishing and pastoralism. This report highlights the significant impact of climate change on the Lake Chad region, emphasizing its role in exacerbating existing challenges such as food scarcity, conflict, and displacement. Despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions, the region is highly vulnerable to climate change due to factors like rapid population growth and weak adaptive capacity. The relationship between climate change and conflict is explored, with attention to both resource scarcity and institutional failures. The report reviews existing literature on climate change in the Lake Chad region, focusing on effects, adaptation strategies, and security implications. It concludes by highlighting the need for resilience-building efforts, early warning systems, and regional cooperation to address climate-related challenges and promote sustainable development in the region.
A security dilemma during Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration in the Lake Chad Basin
The security crisis in the Lake Chad Basin has been of great concern since the expansion of Boko Haram as one of the deadliest terrorist groups on the continent. Scaled-up interventions include DDR processes as part of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected Areas.