Outcome ESA_D_2.1

Regional bodies in ESA hold Member States accountable for implementation of GEWE commitments

In 2023, ESARO made some progress towards this outcome area. With the technical support of UN Women regional bodies developed tools and strategies to hold member states accountable for gender equality commitments. Through UN Women support, under the women, peace and security portfolio four Regional Entities were supported including IGAD, EAC, IPSTC and ICGLR. Under each of these partnerships these regional bodies held dialogues with member states and developed strategies to reach gender equality commitments. UN Women RO continues to support the domestication of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security in the region, through the development and implementation of National Action Plan. in 2023, 2 WPS frameworks were finalized. Namely, Zimbabwe National Action Plan (2023-2027); IGAD Regional Action Plan on WPS (2023-2030). UN Women ESARO’s support was also provided to the African Union to convene member states on their commitments unde the CEDAW Convention and to prepare a common position for CSW68 The Africa pre-CSW68 consultations, convened jointly by UN Women Regional Office for East and Southern Africa, UN Women WCARO, UN Women Liaison Office, AU-WGYD, UNECA and UNDP Service Centre for Africa, was held in preparation for the 68 th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) on the priority theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. The main objective of the Africa pre-CSW68 consultations was for the AU Members states, following national consultations, to contribute substantively to the negotiations towards the CSW68 Agreed Conclusions. The consultations consisted of two segments, the Experts Meeting which was attended by technical experts from Ministries in charge of Gender and Women’s Affairs, Civil Society Organizations, Youth Representatives, Regional Economic Communities and UN Agencies, while the Ministerial Meeting was attended by 24 Member States. The outcome of the consultations was the Common Africa Position Document (CAPD), which highlights Africa’s CSW68 key messages, priorities and recommendations in line with the Session’s priority theme.

Regional bodies in ESA hold Member States accountable for implementation of GEWE commitments

In 2024, UN Women made significant strides in strengthening the capacity of regional bodies to support and hold Member States accountable for implementing GEWE commitments. Through strategic engagements and capacity-building initiatives, regional entities in ESAR have been better positioned to advance and monitor the implementation of key normative frameworks. Under the Women Count Programme , UN Women generated critical data and insights to inform policy decisions and enhance accountability. A notable achievement was the publication of The Status of Gender and Financial Inclusion in SADC Countries statistical report. This report provided a comprehensive analysis of gender gaps in financial inclusion across SADC Member States, offering valuable evidence to guide policy actions and support the region’s commitment to gender-responsive financial systems. As part of the Beijing +30 review process , UN Women facilitated comprehensive national-level reviews, with 22 out of 25 ESA countries submitting their reports to UNECA and UN Women. These reviews were conducted through inclusive, multi-stakeholder processes, engaging governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, academia, and the media. This process underscored the commitment of Member States to advance gender equality by aligning their national policies with international commitments and ensuring accountability through transparent reporting mechanisms. UN Women also worked closely with RECs and intergovernmental organizations to enhance their capacity to support Member States in translating GEWE commitments into action. Key achievements include: The East African Community (EAC) developed a Regional Action Plan (RAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), equipping Member States with a strategic framework to address gender-related challenges in conflict and post-conflict settings. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) strengthened its capacities to implement the IGAD RAP 2023-2030 , supporting gender mainstreaming across peacebuilding and security interventions. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) enhanced its capacity to implement the ICGLR RAP on UNSCR 1325 , ensuring gender considerations are embedded in regional peace and security efforts. In addition, UN Women supported capacity-building initiatives to foster gender-responsive macroeconomic policies and fiscal frameworks. A key highlight was the IMF training on gender inequalities and macroeconomics , where the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Regional Specialist presented the Gender Pay Gap Report . The session provided valuable insights to government officials across African countries, reinforcing the importance of addressing labor market disparities to advance gender equality and economic empowerment. Furthermore, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) , UN Women delivered a three-day hybrid training on the care economy , targeting key departments within the bank. The training equipped participants with practical tools to integrate care economy principles into their operations and resulted in a draft roadmap outlining strategic opportunities for AfDB to advance public and private sector investments in care infrastructure. To further strengthen accountability frameworks, UN Women continued to advance gender-responsive financing initiatives , including the dissemination of the Gender Bonds Toolkit . A regional mission to Lusaka, Zambia, facilitated engagement with financial institutions, securities exchanges, and investors, fostering dialogue on innovative financing mechanisms to support GEWE commitments. These efforts have contributed to strengthening financial accountability and investment in gender-responsive programming across the region. Overall, UN Women's interventions in 2024 have enhanced the capacity of regional bodies to track, support, and hold Member States accountable for their GEWE commitments. Through data generation, capacity building, and strategic partnerships, UN Women has positioned regional entities as key drivers in advancing gender equality across East and Southern Africa.

Regional bodies in ESA hold Member States accountable for implementation of GEWE commitments

Across the ESA region, UN Women ESARO delivered a coherent package of results that collectively strengthened the implementation, financing, accountability, and reporting of gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) commitments at national and regional levels. This included addressing identified gender gaps through targeted technical support such as strengthening Kenya’s electoral framework using the UN Elections Needs Assessment Mission Gender Checklist and advancing the adoption of the SADC Gender Parity in Politics Framework to prevent violence against women in politics while simultaneously catalysing regional initiatives led by the AU, IGAD, ICGLR, EAC, and SADC to operationalize WPS, DRR, and broader GEWE commitments. UN Women influenced the implementation of gender commitments in regional WPS frameworks , embedding gender language in high-level summit and Heads of State outcome documents, advancing regional action plans on UNSCR 1325, promoting quota frameworks for women’s participation in peace processes, and supporting women’s leadership in mediation, including at the Great Lakes level. In parallel, national capacities for gender-responsive budgeting and accountability were strengthened through Beijing+30 reporting, enabling 23 national partners and 21 countries to generate evidence, track commitments, and link GEWE priorities to planning and budgets. At the regional level, five key reporting and accountability tools were introduced or strengthened spanning gender-responsive DRR, conflict-related sexual violence indicators, harmonised gender statistics, and parliamentary accountability while Member States improved the timeliness and quality of GEWE reporting through VNRs, CEDAW submissions, and Beijing+30 commitments. Progress on the ground was evidenced by the partial implementation of gender commitments in peace agreements in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and the DRC, with 25 per cent of identified commitments implemented, alongside continued advocacy to address gaps. Finally, UN Women advanced the integration of gender equality into fiscal, macroeconomic, and financing frameworks by building capacities of regional and global partners, engaging financial and policy actors, and shaping major regional policy outcomes—including ARFSD-11, the Kampala Outcome Document, and the Kampala Compact—thereby reinforcing gender-responsive governance, budgeting, and resource allocation across Africa.