Moving Forward: Challenges and Recommendations The challenges that women face in navigating policy and politics in conflict and peacebuilding remain critical as conflicts mutate and access to the power to influence change remains largely in the hands of men. Without con­trol over sources of power, women are unable to directly shape the implementation of policy. Subramanian- Mont­gomery, Fedynsky, and Bandiaky-Badji 55 affirm this in their study, which revealed that less than 25 per cent of National Action Plans receive a budget upon adoption- a trend that cuts across most programmes targeting wom­en. In Cameroon, for example, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family consistently operates on one of the lowest annual budgets. This lack of adequate financing limits women’s capacity to drive real change, while overreliance on donors often shapes the design and implementation of women’s projects in ways that may not reflect their priorities. Beyond funding, there is also the need to bridge the ideological gap between feminists and grassroots women peacebuilders. In many communities in Cameroon, femi­nism is misunderstood as a confrontational, man-hating identity, often associated with aggression or even stigma­tized as lesbianism. This perception undermines decades of feminist contributions to policy and practice. For femi­nism to grow and open new spaces for women, it requires a strong support system—one rooted in collaboration with women on the ground. Cross-pollinating feminist strat­egies across women’s groups can foster mutual under­standing, clarify roles, and create synergies. Bridging the gap between feminism and women’s political/peacebuild­ing activism will transform political spaces and usher in a different visioning of women as actors and co-creators of policies, thereby enhancing women’s capacities to break down walls and rebuild systems that have historically oppressed them. Women’s empowerment cannot exist without feminist visioning, yet feminism equally depends on broader women’s movements to adopt and operation­alize its ideologies in real time. Considering these challenges, several recommendations can help advance the Women, Peace and Security(WPS) agen­da and strengthen women’s organizing in peacebuilding: • Integrate climate security and environmental justice: Expand the WPS agenda to address the links between environmental degradation, conflict, and insecurity, recognizing their disproportionate impact on women and girls. • Strengthen accountability and financing mecha­nisms: Establish national bureaus dedicated to WPS implementation with direct state funding, backed by regional monitoring systems and sanctions for non-compliance. Sustainable financing and account­ability are essential for continuity and impact. • Engage with digital peace and cybersecurity: Rec­ognize online spaces as new arenas of conflict where women and girls are disproportionately targeted. De­velop concrete strategies for digital peacebuilding and cybersecurity protections. • Broaden the scope of intersectionality: Increase di­versity measures by examining how global geopolitics and business practices shape the lived experiences of women and girls across different contexts. The war has brought more abuse of women's and girls' bodies, sexual slavery, and prostitution into their lives. 55 Subramanian-Montgomery, Fedynsky C Badianky-Badji: 20 Years After Resolution 1325: Why are Women Still Excluded from Peace Processes? 16 Gender Justice Competence Center Sub-Saharan Africa