Localising Accountability : The Dynamics of Donor-Driven Women, Peace, and Security National Action Plan Implementation in African War-Affected States

Sammanfattning

This master’s thesis analyses how the directionality of accountability mechanisms (upwards, horizontal, downwards) within Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) National Action Plans (NAPs) affects local ownership and implementation of the agenda in war-affected states. This is examined through a qualitative comparative analysis of Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mali, using their NAPs, UN evaluations, and CSO reports. The research draws on Bovens’ (2007) accountability framework and Feminist Security Studies as its theoretical basis. It finds that upward-directed donor-driven accountability, as found in the cases, limits the responsiveness towards local and target communities, while incorporating more social or downward-facing accountability improves ownership, localisation, and implementation. Throughout the analysis, political will emerges as a decisive factor in whether accountability mechanisms translate into meaningful implementation. It finds that power asymmetries, donor dependence, and ongoing insecurity constrain the transformative potential of the WPS agenda, and the need to engage more sincerely with civil society to achieve localisation.