Multidimensional security threats and challenges warrant combined efforts and coordination across the three levels of decision-making and implementation - the strategic, operational and tactical - on both the military and civilian side. New challenges require new responses. Alongside the importance of a stronger civilian-military nexus, there is need for different kind of qualifications, expertise and knowledge to meet these new types of security challenges. Human resources diversity as well as gender integration bring in a variety of perspectives and experiences to the national and international security and defence structures and to national armed forces. Adequate policies and practices on the international and national level are needed to foster human capital and talent in its diversity and to fully integrate it into the process of strategic planning, capabilities development, and force preparedness with a view to reinforcing and enhancing the strategic and operational effectiveness of NATO and its Allies and Partners. In this respect, women are key contributors to the process of providing innovative approaches to defence and security by bringing in valuable perspectives and expertise and can therefore play a crucial role in policy formulation, decision making and implementation at the strategic, operational, tactical levels in the military and civilian domains.
The importance of the issue of women in conflict, peace and security has gained broad-based international recognition over the last years through the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and its related Resolutions. Some tangible progress has been achieved at the level of individual countries and international organisations as regards the adoption and implementation of concrete policies and practices to enhance women's role. Security and operational imperatives however require reinforced political will towards creating a sustainable system to increase and maintain opportunity for women to contribute to security in the military and civilian sectors alike.
In this respect, the "Female Leaders in Security and Defence" Project, implemented within the framework of the NATO's Initiative for Smart Defence, seeks to provide innovative approaches and highlight existing good and best practices and thus contribute to the processes of policy formulation, decision making and implementation at the strategic, operational, tactical levels in the military and civilian domains.