Students enrolled in the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU’s) Gender Considerations in Building Partner Capacity (BPC) course recently completed five months of online faculty-led instruction and a two-day capstone in the National Capital Region (NCR). The course was facilitated by Dr. Fabiana Perera, College of Strategic Security Cooperation (CSSC) Senior Faculty Associate.

The twenty course participants evaluated gender dimensions of mission areas addressed by BPC programs and applied those to security cooperation activities, the focal point within Department of Defense (DOD) for planning, execution and management, and oversight of numerous Title 10 Security Cooperation programs.  

During the capstone, the students’ group projects examined the extent to which gender was considered in existing security cooperation programs. They made recommendations on how gender could be considered as a factor to augment the effectiveness of the program. The proposals were representative of various Combatant Commands and utilized a full spectrum of lines of authority and funding across the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities-Policy (DOTMLPF-P) framework.

The course emphasized the importance of a whole-of government approach to Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and BPC implementation. The students from various entities within the DOD not only furthered their knowledge on WPS and security cooperation, but also, collaborated to identify best practices in executing country plans and WPS strategic plans.

During their capstone they also interacted with professionals from Georgetown University, DOD, and Department of State who presented on how they were including WPS in their own work with the aim of inspiring creativity and innovation within security cooperation.

About DSCU’s CSSC: 
The College of Strategic Security Cooperation (CSSC) is a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) and was established in 2023. The College is located in the NCR. CSSC’s focus is on higher-level Security Cooperation education as well as functional and regional studies. DSCU’s CSSC has world-class faculty in political science, security studies, humanitarian law, and gender studies with strong backgrounds in both practice and theory.