Outcome LAC_D_3.1

The United Nations System in Latin America and the Caribbean increased its capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and include GEWE in its planning and programming

During 2025, the United Nations system in Latin America and the Caribbean significantly strengthened its collective capacity to integrate gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (GEWE) across interagency coordination mechanisms, planning frameworks, joint programming, advocacy, data, and accountability systems, contributing to more coherent, evidence-based, and transformative support to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These advances were achieved at both regional and country levels, including in contexts where UN Women has a Non-Physical Presence (NPP), reinforcing system-wide ownership of gender equality as a core pillar of UN development cooperation. At the planning and programming level, GEWE was systematically mainstreamed into at least 10 interagency planning processes through UNW active membership in the Peer Support Group (PSG), including Honduras, Ecuador, El Salvador, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala, Uruguay, and the Caribbean MCO, and resulting in strengthened gender responsiveness and coherence of UNSDCF Roadmaps, UN Country Analyses (UNCAs) and draft and final UNSDCFs. These improvements were underpinned by strengthened quality assurance mechanisms and targeted capacity-building efforts that reached over 300 UN personnel from UN Country Teams (UNCTs), Gender Thematic Groups (GTGs), Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs), and UN Women. Capacities were enhanced across the full UNSDCF cycle, including gender mainstreaming in analysis, results frameworks and M&E; the use of the UNCT-GEM tool to track GEWE dedicated resources; the development and application of Country Gender Equality Profiles (CGEPs); and improved compliance and reporting under the UNCT-SWAP. These efforts, provided by the UN Coordination are in ACRO, strengthened transparency, accountability, and the systematic use of gender evidence in UN planning and programming. In parallel, gender equality was further embedded within regional interagency coordination mechanisms and governance structures of the Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP) , with the Regional Retreat of National Gender Thematic Groups (GTGs) and the Regional Gender Interagency Group (GIG), held on 5–6 February 2025 in Panama City , standing out as the most significant UN coordination milestone of the year. The retreat brought together more than 70 representatives from across the UN system in the Latin America and Caribbean region , including members of 16 National Gender Thematic Groups, 18 Resident Coordinator Offices, and 10 regional and global Agencies, Funds and Programmes , creating an unprecedented space for strategic dialogue, peer learning, and system-wide alignment on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls (GEWE) in the region. Participants deepened their understanding of how to operationalize GEWE across the full Cooperation Framework cycle, including through strengthened links between Gender Thematic Groups, Resident Coordinator Offices, and Regional Inter-Agency Groups. The retreat enabled participants to jointly analyze common coordination bottlenecks, clarify roles and complementarities among UN entities, and identify concrete entry points to accelerate gender-responsive planning, programming, advocacy, and accountability, at a time when the United Nations is operating in an increasingly constrained and polarized environment, marked by growing threats to multilateralism including declining financial contributions and resources, a widening gender backlash, and heightened pressure on the system’s capacity to deliver collectively—further underscoring the importance of strengthened interagency coordination in line with the UN80 reform agenda. GEWE integration was also advanced across IBCs and Working Groups of the Regional Collaborative Platform including the IBCs on 1) Climate Change and Resilience, 2) Governance for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, the Working Groups on 3) Youth, Peace and Security, 4) Data and Statistics, and 5) Evaluation. Notably, UN Women’s technical contributions within the Climate Change Inter-Agency Group informed UN system positions and guidance on the road to COP30 and contributed to the adoption of the Belém Gender Action Plan (GAP III) . Interagency coordination on youth strengthened coherence between the Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security agendas, reaching more than 1,000 participants through regional knowledge exchanges. Coordination on data and statistics enhanced system-wide capacities for SDG monitoring and reporting, improving the visibility and coherence of UN technical assistance at regional and country levels. In countries where UN Women has as a Non-Physical Presence (NPP) , tangible progress was achieved in institutionalizing gender equality within UN interagency coordination mechanisms and national-level engagement. In the Dominican Republic , strengthened gender coordination and accountability led to measurable improvements across all assessed UNCT-SWAP indicators and supported the integration of a strong gender perspective into the country’s Voluntary National Review presented at the High-Level Political Forum. In Panama , the signed UNSDCF effectively mainstreamed gender equality across all three outcomes and national priorities, explicitly identifying women and girls as target groups. In Costa Rica , UN Women’s leadership in the Gender Inter-Agency Group enabled the full implementation of an ambitious interagency workplan, strengthened the capacities of more than 30 staff from 12 UN agencies , advanced the Country Gender Equality Profile, and supported a more gender-responsive UN response in a polarized political context. In Paraguay , UN Women strengthened UN Country Team capacities to integrate gender equality and human rights across planning, coordination, and risk management processes. Capacity-building reached over 200 UN staff and partners , improving skills on gender-responsive Cooperation Framework implementation, accountability tools, and monitoring and evaluation. Gender equality was also integrated into territorial risk management in the Chaco region through interagency workshops with national and local institutions, supporting more gender-responsive risk planning and coordination. In Peru , interagency co-leadership of UNW aligned UNCT action with the Gender Equality Acceleration Plan (GEAP), strengthened accountability tools, expanded advocacy with the State and civil society, and positioned care as a central public policy issue. In Venezuela , interagency coordination mechanisms strengthened gender integration through capacity-building reaching 283 participants , high levels of UNCT-SWAP compliance (93%), and coordinated humanitarian and development responses benefiting populations in prioritized states. In Uruguay , the UN system strengthened its collective capacity to apply a gender-transformative approach through the interagency development of the Gender and Generations Profile , consolidating shared evidence aligned with CEDAW recommendations and informing national policy dialogue at a critical political juncture. Overall, these results demonstrate that strengthened interagency capacities, governance, and accountability mechanisms enable the UN system to more effectively and consistently integrate gender equality across coordination, planning, and programming processes, thereby improving the coherence, quality, and sustainability of UN support to the 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean. This outcome reflects the central role of interagency coordination within UN Women’s triple mandate by reinforcing system-wide ownership of gender equality and ensuring that GEWE is treated as a shared responsibility across all UN entities, embedded in interagency frameworks, monitoring, and decision-making processes.

The United Nations System in Latin America and the Caribbean increased its capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and include GEWE in its planning and programming

In 2024, the UN system in Latin America and the Caribbean increased its capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and include GEWE in its planning and programming processes for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) results. This was achieved through the effective integration of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) considerations into inter-agency planning documents and processes across 21 LAC countries (13 Country Offices and 8 countries were UN Women has non physical presence (NPPs), highlighting Argentina, Mexico, Panama, Cuba, Guatemala and Colombia, facilitated by quality assurance reviews and methodological support provided to UNW personnel and UN country teams. In the same way, enhanced gender mainstreaming in UNSDCF cycles was evident as Argentina and Uruguay Coordination teams improved their capabilities regarding Country Gender Equality Profiles with Regional Office support, and 97 participants from the UNCTs in Paraguay and Guatemala enhanced their capacities to develop gender-transformative CCAs and UNSDCFs through targeted training sessions. The implementation of the UNCT GEM tool was improved, with 233 participants from UNCTs and UN Women personnel enhancing their capacity to track UNCTs' investment in GEWE through two training sessions, and 81 UN personnel trained in gender marker application in Guatemala, Uruguay, and Peru. Capacity building for gender mainstreaming was further supported by training 164 interagency staff on integrating Human GEWE principles into UNSDCF processes, facilitating best practice exchanges within UN Women, and enhancing the capacity of 54 UN personnel to implement the UNCT-SWAP framework. Additionally, 161 UN personnel were equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize the UNCT-SWAP reporting tool. Promotion of inclusivity was achieved by translating the UNCT GEM guidance and the UNCT SWAP guidance into Spanish, facilitating better understanding and implementation of gender mainstreaming practices in Spanish-speaking countries. On the other hand, human rights arguments to counter fundamentalist critiques, analyzed gender in six thematic transitions, and planned the dissemination of the Regional Gender Equality Profile (RGEP) were taking place in this year. Inputs for the argumentation framework were align with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. ACRO hosted a virtual session for 119 participants to present the RGEP, showcasing it as a critical resource for data-driven planning, programming, and gender equality advocacy across the region. Additionally, ACRO developed key messages to counter fundamentalist and conservative narratives, providing RCs and UNCTs with rights-based arguments to respond to critiques on gender equality, care systems, LGTBIQ+ rights, and comprehensive sexuality education. This tool empowers UNCTs to advocate for inclusive policies, share regional best practices, and tackle common barriers to gender equality. Finally, UN System Coordination work in countries where UN Women does not have a physical presence (NPPs) has achieved significant progress during 2024. In this regard in Venezuela, the UN System advanced gender equality through initiatives measured in the UNCT SWAP evaluation, including a gender parity plan developed with UNW and UNFPA support, involving 12 gender focal points across 10 UN agencies. In Panama, UN Women led advocacy activities for the 16 Days of Activism in 2024, positioning itself as a leader in gender advocacy with over 300 attendees. In Peru, UN Women integrated gender equality into interagency coordination mechanisms, co-leading the Gender, Human Rights, and Interculturality Group. In Costa Rica, UN Women played a key role in incorporating a gender perspective into the UNSDCF and maintaining the Gender Interagency Group. In Cuba, interagency processes facilitated by OCR and UN Women resulted in the implementation of the UNCT Work Plan and other gender priorities. In Paraguay, 24 focal points strengthened their capacities in PSEA, and 60 people were sensitized on gender-based violence, with the UN System demonstrating improvements in the UNCT SWAP report and preparing a Gender Country Profile.

The United Nations System in Latin America and the Caribbean increased its capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and include GEWE in its planning and programming

In 2023, UN Women ACRO demonstrated significant progress in enhancing the UN System's capacity to embrace a gender-transformative perspective and mainstream Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) in planning and programming. Through technical expertise, continuous dialogue, and effective coordination mechanisms, ACRO played a key role in advancing gender equality in the Americas and Caribbean (LAC) region. Within the revised working mechanisms of the Regional Collaboration Platform (RCP), ACRO maintained leadership in the Regional Gender Interagency Group (GIG) and assumed chairmanship in the new Thematic Group on Populations Left Behind and the Evaluation Working Group. These roles show ACRO's central position in leading, promoting, and coordinating efforts to integrate gender within the UN System, contributing to the realization of women's rights in the region. ACRO, co-leading the GIG along with PAHO, collaborated with all participating agencies on developing the first Regional Gender Equality Profile (RGEP), which will be published in the first quarter of 2024. A collective effort to identify key challenges in the region. The RGEP's anticipated adoption across the UN System is expected to enhance the effectiveness of actions aimed at improving the lives of girls and women. ACRO's active role in the GIG's advocacy and communication initiatives, such as the impactful International Women's Day and 16 Days of Activism campaigns, reflects its commitment to raising awareness on gender issues. As a member of the Peer Support Group (PSG), ACRO contributed to GEWE accountability in the planning cycles of Colombia and Haiti, as well as in non-physical presence countries like Paraguay. Technical support provided during 2023 included assistance in the development and evaluation of strategic documents, such as the Cooperation Framework evaluations in Colombia, Paraguay, and Cuba, as well as the construction of roadmaps for their new Cooperation Frameworks. An important advancement was the completion of the Spanish translation of the UNCT Gender Equality Marker (GEM) Guidance Note, facilitated by ACRO's proactive initiative. This demonstrates ACRO's commitment to ensuring broad understanding and effective implementation of this crucial gender mainstreaming tool across the region. In countries where UN Women has a Non-Physical Presence (NPP), ACRO actively integrated gender equality within UN system coordination mechanisms. Notable achievements include the successful submission of 6 UNCT SWAP reports in NPP countries (3 comprehensive reports from Costa Rica, Perú and Honduras -being the last 2 the first time they submit this report-, and 4 Annual Reports from Cuba, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela), significant contributions to conventions like CEDAW, and mainstreaming gender in humanitarian programming cycles in Panama and Venezuela, addressing the unique challenges faced by migrant women. In Costa Rica, the UN System aligned its joint work plan with the new Cooperation Framework, emphasizing a gender focus at each stage. ACRO's non-physical presence in Cuba facilitated a strategic alliance with the Parliament, advancing the National Program for the Advancement of Women and accelerating progress towards the gender goals of the 2030 Agenda. The submission of 9 UNCT SWAP annual reports (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Mexico) and capacity strengthening in the use of UNCT tools such as the GEM markers or the UNCT SWAP methodology in several countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, and Paraguay, also demonstrates ACRO's commitment to advancing GEWE across the LAC region. In summary, ACRO's accomplishments in 2023 showcase its pivotal role in advancing gender equality, contributing significantly to the UN System's efforts in the LAC region. The Theory of Change for this outcome remains largely applicable, validating the sustained relevance and impact of ACRO's UN coordination initiatives.