Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Gender and Peace Support Operations

The Master of Arts in Gender and Peace Support Operations provides advanced training in gender perspectives on peace, security, conflict, and peace support operations. Students learn gender analysis in conflict, women peace and security, gender in peacekeeping, conflict-related sexual violence, and peace support operations. The programme is designed for military personnel, security professionals, peacebuilders, and gender specialists seeking advanced expertise at the intersection of gender and peace support operations.

Students develop advanced competencies in gender analysis, women peace and security, gender in peacekeeping, conflict-related sexual violence, peace support operations, and policy analysis. The curriculum covers gender and conflict, women peace and security (WPS) framework, gender in peacekeeping operations, conflict-related sexual violence, peace support operations, research methods, and a research dissertation. Practical skills are developed through case studies and scenario exercises.

Gender expertise in peace support operations is critical for effective peacekeeping and peacebuilding. The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security requires gender-responsive peace operations. Military, security forces, peacekeeping missions, and peacebuilding organisations require trained personnel. Kenya's role in African peace support operations creates demand for gender expertise. The programme addresses the demand for advanced gender and peace support operations training.

The programme combines classroom lectures with case studies, scenario exercises, and research. Students study gender concepts, analyse peace operations through gender lenses, examine WPS frameworks, and conduct research. Teaching methods include lectures, case studies, scenario-based exercises, and research supervision. The programme emphasises analytical and practical skills for gender-responsive peace support operations.

Graduates find employment in military peace support operations, peacekeeping missions, peacebuilding organisations, UN agencies, and gender-focused security roles. The master's degree supports careers in gender advisory roles in peace operations, peacebuilding, and security policy.

This programme is ideal for military personnel, security professionals, peacebuilders, and gender specialists seeking advanced expertise in gender and peace support operations. The programme provides specialised skills for gender-responsive peace operations and security roles.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 268,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Modular
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Master

What you study

10 subjects

Gender and Conflict Analysis
Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Framework
Gender in Peacekeeping Operations
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Peace Support Operations
Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding
Research Methods
International Humanitarian Law and Gender
Gender and Security Sector Reform
Dissertation Research

Modules

8 in the programme

Gender and Conflict Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender and conflict analysis covering gender perspectives on conflict, gendered impacts of conflict, masculinities and conflict, and gender analysis frameworks for conflict settings.
Women, Peace and Security Framework
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
WPS framework covering UN Security Council Resolution 1325, WPS national action plans, women's participation in peace processes, and WPS implementation in Africa.
Gender in Peacekeeping Operations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender in peacekeeping covering gender-responsive peacekeeping, women peacekeepers, gender advisors in peace operations, and mainstreaming gender in UN and African peacekeeping.
Research Methods in Gender and Security Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methods covering research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, feminist research methodologies, and research ethics in conflict settings.
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Conflict-related sexual violence covering CRSV patterns, prevention, response, accountability, and UN frameworks for addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
Peace Support Operations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Peace support operations covering peacekeeping principles, peace operation mandates, African peace support operations, and Kenya's role in regional peace support.
Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding and Security Sector Reform
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Gender-responsive peacebuilding covering gender mainstreaming in peacebuilding, and security sector reform covering gender-responsive SSR and women in security forces.
Dissertation Research and Defence
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
A research dissertation on a gender and peace support operations topic, demonstrating research competence and contributing to gender and security studies knowledge.

Specialisations

Women, Peace and Security
Focus on UNSCR 1325, WPS national action plans, women's participation in peace processes, and WPS implementation.
Gender in Peacekeeping
Focus on gender-responsive peacekeeping, gender advisors in peace operations, and mainstreaming gender in peacekeeping missions.
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
Focus on CRSV prevention, response, accountability, and supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on gender and peace support operations with afternoon case studies and scenario exercises. Students study gender concepts, analyse peace operations through gender lenses, examine WPS frameworks, and conduct research. Scenario exercises involve gender-responsive peacekeeping planning and conflict-related sexual violence response. The programme emphasises analytical skills, gender mainstreaming in peace operations, and practical competence in gender-responsive security.

The trade offs

In its favour

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 creates demand for gender expertise in peace operations worldwide.
Offered at NDU-K, Kenya's defence university with direct links to peace support operations and security institutions.
Provides unique expertise at the intersection of gender, peace, and security — a growing field in international peace operations.

Against it

The programme is offered at a specialised defence institution with restricted access.
Specific fee data is not publicly available; estimate based on comparable programmes.
Gender advisor roles in peace operations may be limited and competitive.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public269k to 269k

269k at University of Nairobi269k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN proxy 268.5K/yr. NDU-K offers course (fee unverified). Private unverified.

As a government defence institution, NDU-K may provide government sponsorship for military and security personnel. HELB loans may be available for eligible Kenyan students.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in master's programmes at chartered universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

Alternative entry: Bachelor's degree (minimum Second Class Lower Division) in Gender Studies, Security Studies, Peace Studies, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related field from a CUE-recognised institution. Security clearance may be required. Contact NDU-K for specific requirements.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Case Studies
Written examination40% of the mark
Coursework assessments, case study analyses, and scenario exercises evaluating understanding of gender and peace support operations concepts.
Scenario Exercises and Research Papers
Project30% of the mark
Gender-responsive peacekeeping planning exercises, WPS policy analysis papers, and research assignments.
Dissertation Defence
Project30% of the mark
A master's dissertation demonstrating research competence in gender and peace support operations.

Accreditation

NDU-K is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The MA programme is accredited by CUE.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
NDU-K is chartered by CUE. MA programme accredited by CUE.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Gender Advisor (Peace Operations)
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Serves as a gender advisor in peacekeeping missions or peace support operations, ensuring gender-responsive planning and implementation.
Peacebuilding Programme Manager
Moderate demand
Manages peacebuilding programmes in NGOs or international organisations, integrating gender perspectives into peacebuilding initiatives.
WPS Policy Analyst
Moderate demand
Analyses Women, Peace and Security policy for government, international organisations, or think tanks, supporting WPS implementation.
Security Sector Gender Specialist
Moderate demand
Works on gender integration in security forces, supporting gender-responsive security sector reform and women's participation in security.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as gender advisors in peace support operations, peacekeeping missions, and peacebuilding organisations, with specialised expertise in gender-responsive peace operations and security policy.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Gender in peace operations is just about women's rights.
Gender in peace operations covers women, peace and security, masculinities and conflict, conflict-related sexual violence, and gender-responsive peacebuilding, not just women's rights.
Gender expertise is not relevant to military operations.
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 requires gender-responsive peace operations, making gender expertise essential for effective peacekeeping.
Peace support operations are only about military action.
Peace support operations include peacekeeping, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post-conflict recovery, requiring multidisciplinary expertise including gender analysis.
Gender and peace studies is not a serious academic discipline.
Gender and peace studies is a well-established field with UN frameworks, academic journals, and dedicated research institutions worldwide.