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UN SUSTAINING PEACE STRATEGY

but also local men, who felt con- all sectors had engagement groups obtaining in the locality of Birao.
fident in talking to the military . in the area, which greatly impro- At the end of the mission, several
As a result of good engagement ved the acceptance of the mission of the groups newly formed began
group of Zambia, rates of viola- and included the population in to interact with the local popula-
tions against women and children the country’s stabilization process, tion, seeking more information
showed very low in addition to the acting as partners, which made and the development of projects,
such as com-
munity gardens
proximity to
the residences,
among others,
so that they de-
crease expo-
sure to threats.
Importantly,
the engage-
ment groups
also contribute
with the deve-
lopment of lo-
cations, such as
improvement of
markets, scho-
ols and health
centers, as well
as lectures on
the importan-
ce of schooling
for girls and
hygiene mea-
sures in dea-
ling with food
and childcare.
In conclusion,
the application
improvement of services, such as all the work much more effective. of engagement groups in pea-
health and education. Additionally, In the role as Force Headquar- ce missions brings effectiveness
with the information obtained from ters Military Gender Adviser at to the fulfillment of the mandate,
the population, the military’s situa- MINUSCA, during that period, it through to obtain information, but
tional awareness of the role of ar- was part of the action plan to im- above all, enables the inclusion
med groups and the way in which plement the engagement teams of the local community, especial-
they interacted with the locals was throughout the mission something ly women, as participants in the
substantially expanded, facilita- they only had in very few battalions process of stabilization and con-
ting the fulfillment of the mandate. and working fully in the Zambian solidation peace in areas affected
The performance of the engage- battalion. The work developed by by conflict, improving the accep-
ment groups was considered to be Zambia was a great inspiration tance of the mission and the un-
a successful model and with the for the development of step 5 pre- derstanding of its objectives by
support of gender advisers, they sent in the plan, which referred the population served, allowing
were replicated and consolidated to the engagement groups, due the restoration of normal life in
throughout the mission. In the end, to the excellent results they were the locations where they operate.

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