East & Southern Africa RO
Strategic note period
2022-2025
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
UN Women in action: Strategic insights and achievements
View annual report narratives for the year
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
At least six national care-related policies and strategies were adopted or operationalized in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa with UN Women’s technical support, extending care-related rights, services and protections to an estimated 28.6 million women across East and Southern Africa. These policy and investment reforms significantly expanded population-level coverage and strengthened the recognition of care as a public investment within national development planning, labour policy and social infrastructure.
Expanded access to care services, care-supportive infrastructure and care-related employment enabled women to reallocate time spent on unpaid care work and increase participation in paid work, livelihoods and community life. Across the region, country-level programmes supported by UN Women and partners expanded access to essential care services for over 300,000 people, improved income security and economic participation for nearly 17,000 women through care-related entrepreneurship and employment pathways, and strengthened institutional and community capacity through engagement of more than 73,000 women and men across government, civil society and women-led organizations, contributing to strengthened household resilience and inclusive economic growth.
National reforms illustrate this progress. Kenya adopted Africa’s first National Care Policy and initiated implementation through a presidential directive to train up to 600,000 single mothers and youth as professional caregivers. Rwanda advanced care-responsive reforms under its National Law Governing Persons and Family and, through the 3R Programme, reached 2,000 women with clean cooking stoves and water tanks, reducing time poverty while strengthening climate resilience. In Tanzania, expansion of Early Childhood Development services created paid employment for at least 9,000 women caregivers and improved access to childcare services benefiting tens of thousands of households, alongside adoption of the National Multi-Sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme and the National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024–2034). In South Africa, strengthened labour protections under the Domestic Workers Act are expected to benefit approximately 1.2 million domestic workers.
UN Women’s East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) played a catalytic role by shaping regional policy dialogue, strengthening technical and analytical capacity, and connecting country-level reforms to global frameworks. Through sustained advocacy, convening, technical guidance and partnerships with national governments, the African Union, civil society organizations and development partners, ESARO enabled governments and partners to integrate care into policy, planning, budgeting and macroeconomic frameworks. This outcome contributes directly to progress on SDGs 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13.
Expanded access to care services, care-supportive infrastructure and care-related employment enabled women to reallocate time spent on unpaid care work and increase participation in paid work, livelihoods and community life. Across the region, country-level programmes supported by UN Women and partners expanded access to essential care services for over 300,000 people, improved income security and economic participation for nearly 17,000 women through care-related entrepreneurship and employment pathways, and strengthened institutional and community capacity through engagement of more than 73,000 women and men across government, civil society and women-led organizations, contributing to strengthened household resilience and inclusive economic growth.
National reforms illustrate this progress. Kenya adopted Africa’s first National Care Policy and initiated implementation through a presidential directive to train up to 600,000 single mothers and youth as professional caregivers. Rwanda advanced care-responsive reforms under its National Law Governing Persons and Family and, through the 3R Programme, reached 2,000 women with clean cooking stoves and water tanks, reducing time poverty while strengthening climate resilience. In Tanzania, expansion of Early Childhood Development services created paid employment for at least 9,000 women caregivers and improved access to childcare services benefiting tens of thousands of households, alongside adoption of the National Multi-Sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme and the National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024–2034). In South Africa, strengthened labour protections under the Domestic Workers Act are expected to benefit approximately 1.2 million domestic workers.
UN Women’s East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) played a catalytic role by shaping regional policy dialogue, strengthening technical and analytical capacity, and connecting country-level reforms to global frameworks. Through sustained advocacy, convening, technical guidance and partnerships with national governments, the African Union, civil society organizations and development partners, ESARO enabled governments and partners to integrate care into policy, planning, budgeting and macroeconomic frameworks. This outcome contributes directly to progress on SDGs 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13.
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
The most impactful result in the reporting year was UN Women’s significant contribution to enhancing women’s participation in peace processes in Sudan, where Sudanese women led efforts to ensure 50% representation in peace talks despite ongoing conflict. With advisory, coordination, advocacy and financial, support from UN Women and in collaboration with regional actors such as the African Union (AU), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), women’s advocacy culminated in the Kampala Feminist Declaration, a powerful statement from 49 women-led organizations which addressed critical issues such as governance reforms, security, the humanitarian crisis, and truth and reconciliation, while condemning systemic gender-based violence. The advocacy efforts informed and directly influenced key peace dialogues, including the AU Women Dialogue, the AU-IGAD Inter-Sudanese Political Dialogue, and USA-led Geneva peace talks. A key milestone from these efforts was the establishment of a technical committee dedicated to ensuring women’s voices were heard and prioritized in peace processes by the group of states and mechanisms supporting the peace talks (AU, IGAD, United States of America, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and United Nations).
Furthermore, continuous advocacy by UN Women and partners resulted in increased attention to the gendered impacts of the conflict, and in particular, conflict related sexual violence (CRSV). By amplifying the voices of women and bringing these grave violations to light, there has been increased recognition of CRSV in regional and global dialogue, policy spaces and in the media. This was facilitated by the two Gender Alerts (on the gender dimensions to the crises and the urgency of addressing gender-based violence respectively) produced by UN Women which presents analysis and calls to action by gender equality advocate for use by policy-makers, humanitarian actors and the public. This outcome not only reinforced women’s critical role in shaping Sudan’s future but also demonstrated how empowering women can lead to more inclusive and sustainable peace solutions. This result is a direct contribution to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
The Regional Office provided technical and financial support to engage and advocate with regional bodies such as the AU and IGAD that are leading the peace processes, UN Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and other regional actors. The Regional Office also facilitated Sudanese women in the region to be engage with these key stakeholders and interlocutors. This was done in collaboration and close coordination with the Sudan Country Office who supported internal consultations to inform discussions at the regional level.
Furthermore, continuous advocacy by UN Women and partners resulted in increased attention to the gendered impacts of the conflict, and in particular, conflict related sexual violence (CRSV). By amplifying the voices of women and bringing these grave violations to light, there has been increased recognition of CRSV in regional and global dialogue, policy spaces and in the media. This was facilitated by the two Gender Alerts (on the gender dimensions to the crises and the urgency of addressing gender-based violence respectively) produced by UN Women which presents analysis and calls to action by gender equality advocate for use by policy-makers, humanitarian actors and the public. This outcome not only reinforced women’s critical role in shaping Sudan’s future but also demonstrated how empowering women can lead to more inclusive and sustainable peace solutions. This result is a direct contribution to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
The Regional Office provided technical and financial support to engage and advocate with regional bodies such as the AU and IGAD that are leading the peace processes, UN Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and other regional actors. The Regional Office also facilitated Sudanese women in the region to be engage with these key stakeholders and interlocutors. This was done in collaboration and close coordination with the Sudan Country Office who supported internal consultations to inform discussions at the regional level.
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
Women’s voices in the Women, Peace, and Security domain were enhanced by providing a conducive environment through the development of The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa’s Regional Action Plan (RAP on UNSCR 1325 (2023-2030)[i]. The RAP enhances accountability for the implementation of National Action Plans. Furthermore, it strives to improve the policy environment, fostering greater inclusion of women in peace processes, reinforce efforts in preventing conflicts and violence against women, girls, and vulnerable groups, particularly focusing on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, and address new and emerging threats in the region. IGAD's strategy involves collaborative efforts with Member States and women's organizations to ensure the realization of RAP commitments. As a result, IGAD has ensured an all-inclusive political dialogue and its collaboration with Sudanese women to ensure their full inclusion in the ongoing peace process. Over 400 Sudanese women from 14 out of the 18 states of Sudan representing 80 diverse groups, coalitions, and networks of Sudanese women peace builders were involved in the peace process with support from UN Women.
The result contributed to the following SDG targets:
Target 5.5. Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making
Target 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
Target 5.9. Adopt and strengthen policies and enforceable legislation for gender equality
Target 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
Target 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
Target 16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
Target 16.6 Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
Target 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
Target 16.a Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
In providing a conducive environment for women’s collective efforts to stop the war as well as their strategic engagement in the peace process UN Women partnered with the following:
African Union and IGAD to facilitate strategic spaces for Sudanese women to position their agenda within the ongoing peace processes and political dialogue.
AWLN collaborated with female peace advocates and women's rights organizations to bolster and amplify their voices in urging an end to the conflict. The focus was on shedding light on the repercussions for women and girls, mobilizing support for women's peacebuilding and protection initiatives in Sudan through coalition building, and developing a unified agenda for peace.
The result contributed to the following SDG targets:
Target 5.5. Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making
Target 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
Target 5.9. Adopt and strengthen policies and enforceable legislation for gender equality
Target 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
Target 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
Target 16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
Target 16.6 Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
Target 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
Target 16.a Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
In providing a conducive environment for women’s collective efforts to stop the war as well as their strategic engagement in the peace process UN Women partnered with the following:
African Union and IGAD to facilitate strategic spaces for Sudanese women to position their agenda within the ongoing peace processes and political dialogue.
AWLN collaborated with female peace advocates and women's rights organizations to bolster and amplify their voices in urging an end to the conflict. The focus was on shedding light on the repercussions for women and girls, mobilizing support for women's peacebuilding and protection initiatives in Sudan through coalition building, and developing a unified agenda for peace.
Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
Progress was made towards the harmonization of the measurement of the Minimum Set of Gender indictors for Africa (MSGIA) and associated SDG indicators as well as the use of standardized approaches and metadata when measuring and compiling SDG indicators. This was achieved by developing a Gender Analysis Toolkit for Prioritising SDG Goals and Guidance Note Integrating a gender perspective into implementation of Agenda 2030 and MSGIA metadata development and training.
The toolkit has since been used by Portia and the South Africa Human Sciences Research Council to train 32 participants from nine African countries to apply these principles in the prioritization of gender across all programmatic and activity areas of the 17 SDG goals in their respective countries and SDG related academic work. The materials developed and training program will be expanded to Latin America in 2023.
The increased availability of MSGIA indicator metadata has improved the harmonization and quality of indicator measurement and reporting across the sub-region. Training, on how to operationalize the metadata enabled 117 (63 women and 54 men) users and producers of statistics, representing 32 countries in Africa to better measure the MSGIA as well as the SDG indicators contained in the MSGIA indicator set. Overall support to the measurement and reporting of the MSGIA in the region has increased due to the adoption of the MSGIA framework by COMESA as a reporting framework for the gender related work of their member states. Strategic partnerships formed by participants during the regional gender statistics workshop with UN Women, UN HABITAT, UNEP and FAO created networks that will enable the participants to continue to engage with the focal points for the relevant gender indicators in each of these agencies for continued capacity building and exchange.
The toolkit has since been used by Portia and the South Africa Human Sciences Research Council to train 32 participants from nine African countries to apply these principles in the prioritization of gender across all programmatic and activity areas of the 17 SDG goals in their respective countries and SDG related academic work. The materials developed and training program will be expanded to Latin America in 2023.
The increased availability of MSGIA indicator metadata has improved the harmonization and quality of indicator measurement and reporting across the sub-region. Training, on how to operationalize the metadata enabled 117 (63 women and 54 men) users and producers of statistics, representing 32 countries in Africa to better measure the MSGIA as well as the SDG indicators contained in the MSGIA indicator set. Overall support to the measurement and reporting of the MSGIA in the region has increased due to the adoption of the MSGIA framework by COMESA as a reporting framework for the gender related work of their member states. Strategic partnerships formed by participants during the regional gender statistics workshop with UN Women, UN HABITAT, UNEP and FAO created networks that will enable the participants to continue to engage with the focal points for the relevant gender indicators in each of these agencies for continued capacity building and exchange.
Results and resources
- Results overview
- Total resources
- Development results and resources
- Organizational results and resources
Budget
Expenses
Outcome
Result statement
IATI identifier
Budget
Expenses
Outcome
Result statement
IATI identifier
OutcomeESA_O_1
Outcome result statementAssuring an accountable organization through principled performance
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ESA_O_1
OutcomeESA_O_2
Outcome result statementAdvancing partnerships, resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ESA_O_2
OutcomeESA_O_3
Outcome result statementAdvancing business transformation
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ESA_O_3
OutcomeESA_O_4
Outcome result statementNurturing and empowered workforce
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ESA_O_4
OutcomeESA_O_5
Outcome result statementProducts, services and processes
IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ESA_O_5
Resources allocated towards SDGs
View SDG data for
Our funding partners contributions
- Chart
- Table
Regular resources (core)
$1.60 M in total
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Other resources (non-core)
$2.76 M in total
Regular resources (core)
$1.60 M in total
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| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | $619,732 2023
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
Total contribution:$619,732
Development:$619,732(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$619,732 2022
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
Total contribution:$619,732
Development:$619,732(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$191,221 2021
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
Total contribution:$191,221
Development:$191,221(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$48,040 2020
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
Total contribution:$48,040
Development:$48,040(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$121,018 2019
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
Total contribution:$121,018
Development:$121,018(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
2023
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$619,732
Total contribution$619,732
Development$619,732(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2022
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$619,732
Total contribution$619,732
Development$619,732(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2021
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$191,221
Total contribution$191,221
Development$191,221(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2020
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$48,040
Total contribution$48,040
Development$48,040(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2019
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$121,018
Total contribution$121,018
Development$121,018(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Other resources (non-core)
$2.76 M in total
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| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | $48,377 2023
SwedenOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$48,377
Development:$48,377(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$48,377 2022
SwedenOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$48,377
Development:$48,377(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$263,109 2021
SwedenOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$263,109
Development:$263,109(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$343,200 2020
SwedenOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$343,200
Development:$343,200(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$332,458 2019
SwedenOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$332,458
Development:$332,458(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
| Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) | --
2023
No data available
|
--
2022
No data available
|
--
2021
No data available
|
$15,000 2020
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$15,000
Development:$15,000(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| United Kingdom | --
2023
No data available
|
--
2022
No data available
|
$38,580 2021
United KingdomOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$38,580
Development:$38,580(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$269,589 2020
United KingdomOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$269,589
Development:$269,589(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) | --
2023
No data available
|
--
2022
No data available
|
--
2021
No data available
|
$81,475 2020
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$81,475
Development:$81,475(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| Alwaleed Philanthropies | --
2023
No data available
|
--
2022
No data available
|
$65 2021
Alwaleed PhilanthropiesFoundation
Total contribution:$65
Development:$65(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| Ireland | --
2023
No data available
|
--
2022
No data available
|
$109,122 2021
IrelandOECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$109,122
Development:$109,122(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | $336,738 2023
Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationFoundation
Total contribution:$336,738
Development:$336,738(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$336,738 2022
Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationFoundation
Total contribution:$336,738
Development:$336,738(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| Republic of Korea (the) | $20,517 2023
Republic of Korea (the)OECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$20,517
Development:$20,517(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$20,517 2022
Republic of Korea (the)OECD-DAC donor
Total contribution:$20,517
Development:$20,517(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | $35,381 2023
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$35,381
Development:$35,381(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$35,381 2022
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations organization
Total contribution:$35,381
Development:$35,381(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
| United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office | $211,483 2023
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$211,483
Development:$211,483(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
$211,483 2022
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
Total contribution:$211,483
Development:$211,483(100%)
Humanitarian:$0(0%)
|
--
2021
No data available
|
--
2020
No data available
|
--
2019
No data available
|
2023
Sweden$48,377
Total contribution$48,377
Development$48,377(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$336,738
Total contribution$336,738
Development$336,738(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Republic of Korea (the)$20,517
Total contribution$20,517
Development$20,517(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)$35,381
Total contribution$35,381
Development$35,381(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$211,483
Total contribution$211,483
Development$211,483(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2022
Sweden$48,377
Total contribution$48,377
Development$48,377(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$336,738
Total contribution$336,738
Development$336,738(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Republic of Korea (the)$20,517
Total contribution$20,517
Development$20,517(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)$35,381
Total contribution$35,381
Development$35,381(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$211,483
Total contribution$211,483
Development$211,483(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2021
Sweden$263,109
Total contribution$263,109
Development$263,109(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Kingdom$38,580
Total contribution$38,580
Development$38,580(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Alwaleed Philanthropies$65
Total contribution$65
Development$65(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Ireland$109,122
Total contribution$109,122
Development$109,122(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2020
Sweden$343,200
Total contribution$343,200
Development$343,200(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)$15,000
Total contribution$15,000
Development$15,000(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Kingdom$269,589
Total contribution$269,589
Development$269,589(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)$81,475
Total contribution$81,475
Development$81,475(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
2019
Sweden$332,458
Total contribution$332,458
Development$332,458(100%)
Humanitarian$0(0%)
Strategic plan contributions
- Impact areas
- Systemic outcomes
- Organizational output
Results stories
