In December 2017 and February 2018, participants representing several dozen U.S. government, international, and non-governmental agencies held two roundtable discussions. These conversations reviewed ten years of applying gender analysis and women, peace, and security framework to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group drew dozens of lessons for policymakers seeking to build peace, counter violent extremism, and promote post-conflict reconstruction. With decades of experience in the military, humanitarian assistance, diplomacy, peace-building and advocacy fields—serving both Republican and Democratic presidents—participants offered a wide range of takeaways.

This playbook offers six immediate, practical lessons as the U.S. government implements new strategies for Iraq and Afghanistan and considers how best to implement the 2017 Women, Peace and Security Act. The United States Institute of Peace and New America will publish more detailed policy recommendations in the months ahead, and we also suggest further reading in the form of resources prepared by organizations and experts who participated in the conversations.