Examining the Role of Gender Norms in Conflict and Peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines how gender norms shape conflict experiences and peacebuilding processes in Northern Nigeria, where persistent ethnic, religious and political tensions continue to drive communal violence, insurgency and banditry. It investigates how prevailing gender roles influence the participation of men and women in peacebuilding and assesses whether these roles promote or hinder sustainable peace. The study adopts a qualitative research design, using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews conducted across three states in Northern Nigeria. Participants included community leaders, women's groups, youth representatives and peacebuilding practitioners, providing diverse perspectives on gender and conflict. The analysis is guided by the gender norms perspective, which explains how socially constructed roles influence conflict experiences, decision-making and peacebuilding participation. The findings reveal that entrenched gender norms significantly influence peacebuilding outcomes. Women remain largely excluded from formal peace processes despite their active involvement in informal mediation, reconciliation and community reconstruction. Men are widely perceived as warriors and protectors, limiting their participation in non-violent peacebuilding activities. Cultural and religious beliefs reinforce these unequal roles, creating barriers to inclusive participation and weakening the effectiveness of peacebuilding interventions. The study concludes that prevailing gender norms undermine inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria. It recommends that policymakers, civil society organisations and traditional leaders adopt gender-sensitive peacebuilding frameworks that challenge harmful gender norms and promote the meaningful participation of both women and men in formal and informal peace processes.