Leading the Way: Civil Society Movements Reshaping Peace & Security

Our latest report explores the challenges, and alternative solutions to peace, pioneered by women’s rights organisations, and youth movements in Colombia, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

  • Published 20th March 2026
  • Author(s) Niki Ignatiou, Martina Lecci, Anna Goslawska and Jessica Gill
  • Category Women in emergencies

Executive summary

Women-led and women’s rights organisations (WLOs and WROs) are central to peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and community resilience in conflict-affected regions. Yet their leadership is too often underfunded, under-recognised, and excluded from formal peace and security frameworks.

This report presents findings from research conducted by ActionAid across four conflict affected contexts to better understand the realities these movements face, the solutions they offer, and what is needed to support transformative, feminist peace.

Please find the other reports in the Leading the Way series here:

Civil society movements in Northern Uganda

Civil society movements in Ethiopia

Civil society movements in Colombia