Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_D_6.2
Governments and CSOs have strengthened capacity to plan, implement and assess progress on gender-responsive 2030 Agenda and SDGs
The outcome was not fully achieved however significant progress was made towards contributing to the Regional Sustainable development forum (RFSD) and High Level Political Forum (HLPF). The RFSD prioritized the immediate actions to be taken to respond the economic and labour market shocks triggered by COVID/-19 for an accelerated, gender-equal, inclusive and sustainable recovery. Key achievements: - 5 out of 12 formal RFSD sessions were contributed by partners from GEWE perspectives and were focused on unpaid care work and gender responsiveness of family policies; gender digital divide; women and girls in STEM; gender responsive social protection, employment, labour market policies and services; addressing specific gender needs of excluded/marginalized groups to public services; responding the inequalities and vulnerabilities exacerbating by COVID-19; access to land ownership, property rights; capacity development of women on green technology, financial literacy, accessing finance and resources to run the business; collection and analysis of gender data; etc. - 4 side events co-organized by ECARO had allowed to bring additional evidences and arguments to promote integration of GEWE perspectives into COVID-19 recovery policies and actions. - Efforts to mainstream GEWE into RFSD dialogue was documented by ECARO to discuss further how member states and partners can advance GEWE at RFSD process. So, share of the per learning round table with GEWE aspects addressed - 58,3% (7 out of 12) and a share of RFSD side events with GEWE focus – 33,3% (7 out of 21 events in total). Women dominated among moderators and speakers – 65,2% and 51,1% respectively. The documentation was shared with UN Regional Directors to promote a more substantive gender mainstreaming into the SDGs related dialogues. - The analytical paper summarizing ECARO studies and consultations on priorities for gender responsive employment and access to decent work was developed and submitted to HLPF 2021. It recommended more specific support for women, ensuring that no one is left behind, and a greater gender responsiveness in policymaking remains to enable women and girls, and vulnerable groups to ‘weather the crisis, bounce back and rebuild’, as well as facilitating sustainable longer-term change. National women’s machineries, sectoral ministries dealing with employment, labour market, ICT, climate change, and national statistical offices, CSOs, gender experts and youth activists, UNECE and UN agencies contributed to this achievement by sharing their expertise, experience and ensure a meaningful global consultation. The theory of change is still applicable and is in line with the corporate GEF and intergovernmental engagement strategy.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_O_1
UN System Coordination
The result was achieved, and UN Coordination improved through the advancement of UN Development System (UNDS) reform at the regional level. The quality of UNSDCF processes and products increased through Peer Support Group (PSG) technical and quality assurance support to Roadmaps (Moldova and Ukraine); Common Country Assessments (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine) and UNSDCFs (Albania and Serbia) as evinced by a year-end review and Resident Coordinator (RC) feedback. 50% of new UNSDCFs include a dedicated GEWE outcome and new CCAs include strong gender analysis. ECARO contributed to this result by reviewing all UNSDCF products as a PSG member and providing training to seven UNCTs (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) on RBM and integration of GEWE in UNSDCFs. UN Women field offices and other PSG members also contributed by jointly communicating the importance of gender mainstreaming in UNSDCFs, and RCs provided leadership to include strong GEWE integration. UNDS reform is well-advanced in the region and there has been significant progress in implementing the UN SG’s five recommendations for reform. Under the new Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP), ECARO contributed thought leadership and influenced the restructuring of the regional architecture by co-leading the Issue-based Coalition (IBC) review and management response with UNDP. The IBC review process was held up as a best practice globally and the findings were shared during an intra-regional RCP meeting. ECARO co-chaired the Regional Operations Management Team charged with implementation of Common Back Offices and co-location of regional UN offices and contributed funds and technical advice to develop a new RCP Knowledge Management system to improve coordination and communication between regional structures and agencies with UNCTs. The IBC on Gender Equality, co-chaired by UN Women and UNFPA, has been cited globally as a good practice and important results were achieved including increased regionalization of commitments through the convening of a multi-stakeholder platform to advance progress on Generation Equality Action Coalition Six in the ECA region and address the trend of increased pushback on gender equality and women’s rights. UNCTs in Azerbaijan, Serbia, Uzbekistan and North Macedonia have increased capacity to implement the UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard as a result of training organized by ECARO in cooperation with the HQ Coordination Division and GTGs.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_O_2
Strategic Partnerships
The result was achieved, and resources mobilized to advance gender equality in the region with 26 donor agreements signed that led to over 23.5mill dollars for gender equality programming in the region. ECA RO contributed to this result by providing advisory services on donor engagement, facilitating finalization and signature of contract agreements. Notably, a new agreement was signed by Ukraine with Norway for 4mill, Sweden committed to SNs in the region- Moldova and Turkey for 3.2mill and 2.7mill respectively and Serbia received 2millEuros from EC for the second phase for Support to Priority Actions for Gender Equality. UN Women’s engagement in UN coordination is a reality in the region: around 12% of new commitments are organized in the framework of a joint programme, involving several UN agencies. Partnership Engagement with: IFIs- UN Women signed an MOU with EBRD and developed a joint action plan focused on advancing progress on women's economic empowerment, tackling the digital divide and the green agenda. EBRD and UN Women co-lead and jointly contributed to policy discussions including at Women Entrepreneurship Expo. As a result, collaboration started at the country level focused on women entrepreneurs activities in Western Balkans, Tajikistan and Turkey. ECA RO has also signed and operationalized MOUs with CoE and OSCE (extended). Sub-regional organization/Bodies - Joint events were co-organized and co-hosted with Regional Cooperation Council in Western Balkans on women economic empowerment (RCC contributed to Women Entrepreneurship Expo), climate change (UN Women invited to become a member of the Technical Steering Committee), and digitalization (jointly hosted High Level Events). UN agencies - A new partnership was established with UNEP and 2 High level meetings -with participation of Ministers and Ambassadors- organized to mobilize resources. Governments - High level partnership dialogues commenced and will continue in 2022 tasked to raise resources on emerging areas: digitalization ( EU) data and Women Count (Finland, Denmark, Netherlands), climate resilience (Norway, Germany, Switzerland). GEF and ACs : 9 out of 18 countries (50% of ECA programme countries) made their commitments for 5 Action Coalitions through the close support by ECARO to governments and non-state actors from the region. Also, 57 applications were submitted from CSOs in ECA as commitment makers to contribute to the Generation Equality. Youth and CSO : 5 meetings were organized by ECARO with R-CSAG and youth activists to support the design of the new UN Women SN and regional programmes focused on modality of partnership with CSOs from Western Balkans, on the new regional programme of gender and digitalization and CSOs and youth with the UN Women ED. Moreover, 572 CSOs served as UN Women Responsible Parties in 2021. Private Sector: A new pilot is implemented in the region on gender responsive investment and procurement as a result of the partnership signed with Mary Kay focused on the women entrepreneurship accelerator
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_O_3
Knowledge management, RBM and innovation
The output cluster was achieved and significant progress was made in increasing knowledge management and results-based management (RBM) capacities in 2021.Offices across the ECA region upheld strong performance results in RBM. As per the corporate assessment, the region continued to produce the highest percentage scores for SN and ARs in 2020. The RO contributed to this result by providing offices with RBM support during development of their Work Plans and Annual Reports. A high-quality SN for the RO was developed which was assessed to have strong application of RBM approaches by the PRG. During the reporting period, knowledge management systems were also further institutionalized based on the needs of countries in the region with extensive contributions of ECARO. ECA KM Focal Points group was establish with the participants from RO and COs strengthen internal knowledge exchange and create synergies on knowledge management related activities. 56% of ECA programme countries developed Country Gender Equality Profiles and eight ECA regional thematic Communities of Practice (GRB, EVAW, WPP, WPS/HA/DRR, data, climate change, SDGs and normative work, UN Coordination and M&E) facilitated knowledge sharing among country offices and with key partners at sub-regional and regional levels . Some of the initiatives and publications that strengthened ECARO’s KM efforts can be listed as: a. South-South discussion on approaches and institutionalized models for female leaders networking was facilitated between representatives of Central Asia Women’s leaders Caucus, African Women Leaders Network, and the Arab Women Parliamentarians Network for Equality in Uzbekistan; b. Rethinking care economy and empowering women for building back better series of discussions, based on knowledge generated and c. Rethinking care economy and empowering women for building back better series of discussions, based on knowledge generated.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ECA_O_4
Financial and Human Resources management
The output cluster was achieved and significant progress was made in financial and resources management. ( See attached delivery report.) Despite some setbacks from COVID-19, delivery is on track referring al IB, ExB and Core expended over corporate targets. Attached is the latest PDR report with breakdowns per sources of funds. As for ACARO's core, the delivery rate is 97.99% and utilization rate is 99.45%, and there is an unspent core of $5,103, which will be treated through reversal of EXB charges to core in January 2022. Regarding ECARO's non-core, the delivery rate is 88.58%. The PDR will show slightly improved figures once the 31 January deadline is passed, and all partner liquidations are also registered. Additionally , ECA offices have improved compliance on key corporate metrics, including timely liquidation of partner advances, RMS-Atlas mapping, monitoring of project expenses, application of donor funds, including installments. ECARO and the ECA region underwent a total of 27 audits; 2 internal, 2 EUVMs, 20 partner audits and 3 agency wide. With the exception of one small partner audit finding, all received unqualified results which is a significant achievement. ECA also was a regional leader again in GRP, fraud risk register compliance, and timely project closure in the reporting period. The regional office contributed to this increased operational performance through close and regular oversight of country offices throughout 2021 and participated to a number of policy updates and reviews. ECA was also the leading region in ICT and InfoSec compliance, having implemented GST for all ECARO/PP operations. ECARO also oversaw the first BOS/CBO implementation for Serbia and advised on 3 more within the region as well as chaired the Regional OMT and BOS development.Showing 11 - 15 of 15