In October 2025, France joined the group of contributing countries to the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations, including Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Republic of Korea, Denmark, and Finland. This takes the form of in-kind contribution through the provision of a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) to the Elsie Fund Secretariat. It marks France’s first contribution to the global initiative, promoting the meaningful participation of uniformed women in United Nations peace operations.

The Elsie Initiative Fund, administer by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, provides targeted assistance and incentives for Troop and  Police Contributing Countries (T/PCC) to identify and overcome barriers to the deployment of trained and qualified uniformed women peacekeepers – including members of military contingents and formed police units, and officers who deploy as police officers, or military observers and staff officers. The initiative also supports innovative projects submitted by UN organizations aiming at enhancing the meaningful participation of uniformed women deployed in UN peace operations.

Established in March 2019 with the support from the broader Canadian Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, Member States, the UN system and peacekeeping experts, the Fund has benefitted from a strong collaboration with its 10 contributors. Thanks to the generosity and commitment of these donors, the Trust Fund has so far mobilized contributions exceeding USD 46 million.

To date, the Trust Fund’s Steering Committee has approved funding for 29 projects with a total budget of US$ 29 million. The projects are implemented by the Participating UN Organizations and national government entities across the globe. The Elsie Fund Secretariat is responsible for the overall coordination and monitoring of the Trust Fund, providing technical, management, and planning and programming support.

For more information on the MPTF and its projects and results, please see the annual report 2024 here, as well as the following platforms: The Elsie Initiative Fund and MPTF Gateway.