Outcome ESA_D_1.1

Regional actors in ESA have strengthened policies, programmes and practices on gender equality which challenge gender stereotypes and promote positive social norms

UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office made slight progress toward the Outcome in 2023, with three regional and sub-regional bodies adopting new policies or programmes on gender equality which challenge gender stereotypes and promote positive social norms or initiating steps toward the development of new policies and frameworks. The African Union adopted a Regional Action Plan on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and initiated the development of a Convention to Eliminate VAWG, the Intergovernmental Authority for the Horn of Africa adopted a revised Gender Policy, the South African Development Community (SADC) approved Indicators for its GBV Scorecard as a tracking tool for SADC Member States to report on progress against the SADC Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing Gender Based Violence (2018-2030). Member States contributed to these developments by hosting continental platforms in support of gender equality, such as the Regional Meeting of Financing for Gender Equality, hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, with support from UN Women and the International Monetary Fund, or the African Union Third Conference on Positive Masculinities, hosted by the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa. Additionally, South Sudan and Botswana ratified the Maputo Protocol in 2023, following targeted advocacy by civil society organizations under the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition hosted by Equality Now. UN Women contributed to these developments by providing technical assistance in the review and inputs to the African Union Regional Action Plan on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) which was adopted by the Specialized Technical Committee in November 2023, supported the drafting and development processes related to the IGAD Gender Policy, as well as financially contributing to convening gender ministers from the Horn of Africa for its launch in December 2023. Through the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme, UN Women provided financial assistance to Equality Now for undertaking advocacy missions under the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition to countries which had not yet ratified the Maputo Protocol. Regarding the AU Regional Action Plan on Ending Violence against Women and Girls, UN Women was invited by UNDP to contribute inputs to the Plan’s draft, as UNDP led the support to the African Union for developing the Plan under the Regional Spotlight Initiative. UN Women was also invited to provide inputs to the UN Horn of Africa Strategy for Hate Speech that was developed by the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa (OSESG-HoA) in consultation with other UN agencies and partners. In the realm of advancing women, peace, and security, an apparent correlation exists between entrenched patriarchal gender roles and societal norms, impeding the realization of inclusive and sustainable pathways for peace. In response to this challenge, IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) adopted a Regional Action Plan (RAP) on Women, Peace, and Security i in 2023. The RAP strategically positions women at the forefront of the region's complex peace and security landscape. This framework not only amplifies women's voices at the regional level but also aligns with the Leave No One Behind principle, actively addressing persistent cultural and social norms that systematically marginalize women from participating in peace and security efforts. In tandem with the RAP, IGAD adopted its Gender Policy (2023-2030) ii underscoring its commitment to fostering gender equality in the region. UN Women played a pivotal role in the development of the Regional Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 and the Gender Strategy. This involvement included providing both technical expertise and financial support to IGAD throughout the drafting, finalization, and launch processes. The significant contributions of UN Women and partners were acknowledged by the IGAD Executive Secretary iii during the Ministerial Meeting for the adoption of IGAD's Regional Gender Policy and Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. Notably, the impact of UN Women's involvement is discernible in the incorporation of their inputs into both frameworks, marking a collaborative effort toward achieving tangible outcomes in advancing gender equality and promoting peace and security. Additionally, UN Women has actively advanced the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda by providing ongoing policy support and enhancing the institutional capacity of the International Peace Support Centre. Through a comprehensive review and adoption of the Gender Strategy, UN Women has played a key role in fostering a more conducive environment for the implementation of the WPS agenda within peace support operations in the region. This strategic collaboration has resulted in tangible improvements, strengthening the integration of gender perspectives and principles into the operational framework of peace support efforts. The engagement in the abovementioned areas reinforces the existing Theory of Change under Outcome 1.1, where the ESARO provides capacity strengthening, access to evidence, improved coordination and engagement of gender equality partners, including non-traditional actors in support of the outcome results. More attention to substantive engagement with additional regional actors identified by ESARO will be a focus area for the 2024- 2025 workplan period. The progress and measures advanced in 2023 offer the potential to bring about transformative changes in the lives of women and girls in East and Southern Africa to be safe, be represented in leadership roles, have their voices heard and have the power and access to opportunities to influence decisions affecting all aspects of their lives. Continued focus on accountability to commitments made will be essential to ensure these developments are realized.

Regional actors in ESA have strengthened policies, programmes and practices on gender equality which challenge gender stereotypes and promote positive social norms

In 2025, regional and national actors across East and Southern Africa strengthened their ability to advance gender equality, challenge harmful gender stereotypes, and promote positive social norms across leadership and decision-making, women, peace and security, EVAWG, and economic empowerment. Through sustained engagement with UN Women ESARO, key institutions, civil society, and regional bodies increasingly adopted gender-responsive and evidence-informed approaches that place women’s rights, leadership, and protection at the centre of policy and practice, contributing to more enabling policy and institutional environments for gender equality, reduced harmful practices, and greater participation of women and girls in political, economic, and peace and security processes. Regional organizations such as the AU, SADC, IGAD, ICGLR, and EAPCCO strengthened their leadership on gender equality by integrating women’s rights and social norms change into regional frameworks, peace and security processes, and GBV prevention strategies. At the national level, countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Seychelles, Mauritius, Zambia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda advanced gender-responsive policies and programmes to address violence against women, harmful practices, women’s political participation, and women’s leadership in peace processes, through NAPs on WPS and GBV. Progress was Progress was demonstrated by increased representation, improved quality of advocacy and response to calls for accountability with regards to addressing harmful social norms, greater attention to VAW through implementation of laws ;targeted efforts to address harmful social norms, and enhanced institutional capacity to prevent violence against women and support women particopation in peace processes. I n the Great Lakes context, women moved from exclusion to holding 40 per cent of seats in Africa-led mediation and facilitation structures under the EAC–SADC peace process, strengthening the integration of civilian protection, accountability, and recovery considerations within political dialogue. Regional and national actors demonstrated improved leadership and accountability on issues such as violence against women in politics, digital and conflict-related violence, women’s leadership in peacebuilding, and the redistribution of unpaid care work. An example of how leadership practices changed in the Seychelles Police Force can be seen in the way promotions and recognition were handled before and after the Empowering Every Badge initiative with the EAPCCO. Before l eadership allowed ranks to carry a “W” designation, marking women as different and reinforcing gender bias. Follwoing UN Women support, the Chief of Police influenced by the initiative, removed the “W” designation, signaling that women were officers first and foremost. This change illustrates how leadership evolved from reinforcing exclusionary norms to modeling equality. At the regional level, enhanced collaboration, learning, and joint advocacy helped align efforts across institutions such as the African Union, SADC, ICGLR, IGAD and EAPCCO and stakeholders, reinforcing shared commitments to gender equality and social norms change. Women’s organizations, youth leaders, and influential partners increasingly used their platforms to challenge discriminatory practices, promote inclusive narratives, and influence policy debates.

Regional actors in ESA have strengthened policies, programmes and practices on gender equality which challenge gender stereotypes and promote positive social norms

Regional actors in East and Southern Africa have strengthened gender-responsive policies, programs, and practices to challenge harmful stereotypes, promote positive social norms, and advance gender equality. Through strategic partnerships with UN Women, 26 regional and national entities across nine countries have developed and implemented frameworks to reduce gender-based discrimination, address violence against women and girls, and enhance women’s meaningful participation in governance, peace, and security. Key policy milestones include supporting the development of the African Union’s first Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, working with SADC to develop the Framework for Achieving Gender Parity in Political and Decision-Making Positions, and advancing the WPS agenda, supporting EAC on the development of its Regional Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. Capacity-development initiatives, such as training SADC lawyers to address violence against women in elections and supporting women-led organizations through platforms like the AWID Forum in Nairobi, have enhanced advocacy, legal reforms, and grassroots engagement. Efforts to transform social norms have been advanced through regional dialogues, cross-learning sessions, and the involvement of non-traditional partners, including traditional and religious leaders, in initiatives such as the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. By engaging regional influencers and institutions, including the African Development Bank, media outlets, and civil society organizations, these efforts contribute to fostering more inclusive governance, addressed systemic challenges and promote conducive environment to promote gender equality and women empowerment in ESA region. The importance of working through institutional priorities and opportunities, such as the AU’s commitment to develop a Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls or the EAC’s commitment to develop a Regional Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, ensured that issues of social norms or challenging gender stereotypes were embedded in ongoing efforts rather than as stand-alone areas of capacity-strengthening. The iterative approach which aimed to reach stakeholders within the institution leading the policy, but also external actors (e.g. media, traditional leaders, CSOs, etc.) was essential for affirming a common understanding and approach to advancing gender equality. It is notable, however, that such efforts extend beyond a single year and require continued attention and institutional leadership to regularly communicate key messages identified. This will be an area of continued focus in 2025, building internal ownership of the policy developments and approaches to promote equitable social norms.

Regional actors in ESA have strengthened policies, programmes and practices on gender equality which challenge gender stereotypes and promote positive social norms

UN Women East and Southern Africa made progress toward the outcome in 2022. Regional actors such as the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and Regional Parliamenty Forums, such as the Pan-African Parliament and SADC Parliamentary Forum, and national institutions furthered policy frameworks in support of gender equality and promoting positive social norms. For example, the African Union furthered its draft of a Regional Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) and reaffirmed its commitment to adopt a Convention to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls, the Pan-African Parliament developed a high-level outcome document following a regional women's conference providing guidance and recommendations for Member States to encourage accountability to their committments on women's politcal participation and the ICGLR worked with Member States to implement its Regional Action Plan on UN Security Council 1325. At the national level, the Ministry of Justice in Ethiopia collaborated with EVAWG actors to further develop its national strategy to end violence against women and the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups in Tanzania initated a process to evaluate its second National Plan of Action to end Violence Against Women and Children. The South African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) also took steps to improve gender equality programming by convening a regional dialogue on challenges faced by women in politics and produced draft Guidelines on the role of parliament in human rights as well as principles and guidelines in curbing corruption in SADC. UN Women contributed to these developments by contributing technical and financial resources toward implementation of the Regional Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, and providing technical review of the policies and guidelines, initiating and co-facilitating trainings and supporting regional actors to convene dialogues and consultations related to the issues. Specifically, UN Women provided technical inputs on the draft AU Plan on EVAWG, which was financed by UNDP under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme, supported the SADC PF in planning and development of the regional dialogue, including delivery of technical presentations and contribution as part of the SADC Technical Working Group on Democratic Governance. UN Women convened a pilot virtual training for 40 policy-makers, civil society practitioners and UN personnel on evidence-based prevention using the joint UN RESPECT Framework, working in collaboration with the Prevention Collaboration, UNFPA and WHO, In addition, UN Women collaborated woth sister UN agencies in the design and delivery of training on the multi-sectoral responses to violence, and supported strengthened capacity of Member States to promote women's political participation through technical support to regional dialogues, a peer learning series for election management bodies, political parties and parliamentary gender committees on leadership and politics, which culminated in the development of outcome documents for follow up by member states. The lessons from 2022 reaffirm the approach taken of strengthening regional actor capacities and access to evidence, coordination of efforts and supporting diverse partners to better advocate for gender equality from their respective platforms.