The main aim of this study is to analyse the advantages and opportunities of a gender-inclusive security sector in order to gain a better understanding of the challenges involved in taking this dimension into account, with a view to promoting greater involvement and integration of women's needs in security sector reform in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. It also looks at the nature of the progress made in terms of women's participation in the security sector in these countries and the institutional responses to the specific security needs of this category of actors.