NCGM was founded in 2012 as a joint Nordic centre with the purpose to promote the participating Nations’ implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, and subsequent resolutions, and to increase the participating Nations’ ability to integrate a gender perspective in military organisations, operations and activities.

While stemming from the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO), NCGM’s participation has expanded over the years. Since the centre was established, three non-Nordic countries have joined: the Netherlands in 2015, Canada in 2017 and Australia in 2023. 

In 2013, upon request from NATO, NCGM was officially established as the NATO Department Head (DH) for NATO’s Gender in Military Operations Discipline. Since 2018, NCGM is a NATO-accredited Education and Training Facility. NCGM also carries out the role as an Expert Centre on Gender in Military Operations and Women, Peace and Security.
Sweden is the Host Nation of NCGM.

Contact: ncgm@mil.se

Modern conflicts are changing rapidly and security forces experience a considerable challenge trying to assist in building a secure and democratic state, founded on sustainable peace. The establishment of NCGM in 2012 was the result of increased efforts by the Nordic countries in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and related resolutions on Women, Peace and Security into military peace support operations.

To have a gender perspective is to be able to detect if, when, and how, women, men, girls and boys are being affected differently by a situation or operation.

NCGM assists the military in integrating gender perspectives into the planning, execution and evaluation phases of operations through education and training, integrating gender into military exercises, cooperation through a network of key experts and institutions and by providing advice to policy and process development.

NCGM collaborates closely with the Nordic countries, NATO, United Nations, European Union, other organisations and military training centres all around the world.

In February 2013 NCGM was appointed as NATO’s Department Head concerning gender. In this capacity NCGM translates NATO’s operational requirements into NATO’s education and training programme, supports NATO Nations and Partners with a pool of Subject Matter Experts at Education and Training events, including exercises.

Additionally, NCGM conducts its own accredited courses and seminars, both in-house and as Mobile Educations and Training Teams.

Welcome to our courses!

Yours sincerely,

Olov Kesselmark
Commandant NCGM

The Military Gender Analysis Tool (MGAT) gives an increased understanding of the engagement space by integrating gender perspective across all phases and levels of military operations. Specifically, the purpose of the MGAT is to:

-Improve situational awareness
-Identify the needs of the military strategic level
-Provide a tool of communication
-Allow for assessment and measurement
-Ensure a holistic approach to gender integration

Target Audience:
GENADs, GFPs, planners and intelligence

Implementing gender perspective in military exercises. A guide. This guide explains how commanders, exercise planners, trainers, evaluators and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the ‘Gender Advisory, Support and Analysis Function’ can work to integrate gender perspective in military operations.

This guide is applicable to all military exercises at all levels: Strategic, Operational and Tactical. Additionally, it can serve as a guide for both large multi-national and national joint exercises, as well as in small training events (e.g. battalion size).

Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations. A folder with a short background about NCMG and its courses, and a short introduction about what Gender in Military Operations means.

Policy brief NCGM Expert Meeting on international law and gender. The aim of this policy brief is to capture and elaborate on the key points from the discussions during the Expert Meeting. Specifically, the brief provides guidance and support to better equip the military in its work on prevention and response to Conflict Related Sexual Gender Based Violence (CR-SGBV) as well as provides recommendations on new and strengthened areas of cooperation between different actors.

International Humanitarian Law and a gender perspective in the planning and conduct of military operations. The report presents the outcome of an expert meeting held on 13 and 14 October 2022, on “understanding and avoiding gendered harm from military operations during armed conflict”. It was organised jointly by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM) and the Swedish Red Cross. This report provides information and guidance as to how gendered harm arising from military operations can be better understood, sets out good practices to avoid and reduce it, and considers associated challenges that confront militaries in contemporary armed conflicts.

The report seeks to inform practitioners engaged in national security or defence, who are concerned with how military operations cause gendered impacts in situations of armed conflict.

Gender perspectives in military operation. A soldier’s card. The card provides an overview of the organisation of Gender personnel in NATO, EU and UN. It shortly presents the seven UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.

Integrating gender perspective in military exercises (2021). This publication provides exercise planners and gender perspective Subject Matter Experts (Gender SMEs) a reference and resource document to assist with effective integration of gender perspective throughout the entire exercise planning process.

A military guide to the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women Peace and Security. The guide is a supporting tool for commanders and other military leaders responsible for implementing UNSCR 1325 and the subsequent resolutions in the WPS Agenda. It covers implementation both internally within their own organisations and externally, both in national contexts and in international missions and operations. The content is also of relevance for advisors at the military-political level responsible for national policies on WPS implementation, as well as advisors in staff functions in armed forces and other military organisations, particularly Gender Advisors (GENADs).

Thematic analysis: The use of gender perspective in the conflict in Ukraine. The purpose of this analysis is to raise awareness on the relevance and prevalence of aspects of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and gender perspectives in a modern conflict in Europe. As such, it is intended as a starting point for discussions on the gendered strategies, perspectives and consequences of the war in Ukraine. The analysis provides examples illustrating the relevance of gender perspective in the ongoing conflict.

Whose Security. This publication provides examples of how using a gender perspective in the planning, execution and evaluation of military operations has enhanced the operational effect. The respondents have been given a chance to share their experiences and actions.

Review of the practical implications of UNSCR 1325 for the conduct of NATO-led operations and missions. Full report. This review is the result of the commitment by NATO, and by its Operational Partners in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and in the Kosovo Force (KFOR), to support implementation of UNSCR 1325. The Review is an important initiative that identifies gaps and achievements in NATO-led missions. The report is the effort of an international cooperation between the many NATO nations and ISAF/KFOR partner nations.

Teaching gender in the military. A handbook. This handbook aims to strengthen the capacity of faculty and gender experts to deliver gender education, and to foster the community of practice among experts involved in its creation. This should contribute to the integration of gender in military education in NATO/EAPC countries, ultimately contributing to the integration of gender in military institutions and operations, as mandated by the national, NATO, and international policy framework. In essence, the handbook covers both “what to teach” and “how to teach” when it comes to gender and the military.

Below are photos from the facilities hosting SWEDINT and NCGM.

The building was built for the purpose of education and inaugurated in 2004, making it a well-functioning and - in relative terms - modern learning environment.

Amphitheatre lecture hall.

Student lounge.

Room at the student hotel.

Student hotel lounge.

Laundry facility at the hotel.