On November 14th, the Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa hosted an online session within its Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) informal network1. This meeting highlighted the role of the private sector in advancing the WPS agenda, focusing specifically on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can drive progress in gender equality within the peace and security domain. The session brought together two AI expert speakers and over 30 WPS practitioners from the MENA region, Europe including Sweden, who shared insights and experiences from their work in WPS initiatives.
The meeting brought to light the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda sphere, emphasizing both its transformative potential and its inherent challenges. Opportunities were raised, including the use of AI-driven platforms for skill development for women in conflict zones, enhancing their capacity to contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding efforts. Participants also highlighted how AI can empower women by enabling their active involvement in post-conflict reconstruction, providing innovative tools to monitor the implementation of WPS National Action Plans (NAPs), and facilitating the documentation of gender-based violence and war crimes.
Read the report from the WPS meeting on the role of private sector and AI.
