Outcome ESA_O_2

Advancing partnerships, resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale

UN Women Regional office was able to ignite new partnerships, some of which were on pause for a long time. These included partnership with Rockefeller Foundation, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), French Development Agency, East Africa Philanthropy Network and World Scouts Movement for Africa. These partnerships have created an opportunity to create and explore opportunities jointly in raising resources to deliver results for women and girls in the region. In 2024, UN Women ESAR signed new agreements with public donors amounting to a total contribution of USD 32,548,400. European Union, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Finland, United States, Canada remain as the top donors for the region. It is impressive to see contributions from non-traditional donors like GIZ, and US Department of States ignite new partnerships. Significant contributions were also received through the Multi-donor Trust Funds amounting to USD 16,729,634. In terms of Private sector, total contribution amounted to USD 1,639,452, received through BMGF for Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia. Funding received in 2024 through UN-to-UN Agreements amounted to USD 2,013,908, and through USD 16,650,828 through joint programmes -majority of the contributions were received through Multi-donor trust funds and MPTF. Impressive to see country offices embrace resource mobilization jointly as one UN with other agencies, and we continue to strengthen this funding stream. In total, USD 34,187,852 was received in new contributions-agreements signed in 2024, thanks to pursuing strategic opportunities with both present and non-traditional donors including the private sector. To position UN Women ESAR for strategic funding opportunities, The RM Specialist and the Regional Director paid a courtesy visit to the Rockefeller Foundation to show case UN Women work in the region and seek opportunities for partnerships, the mission was successful, Rockefeller requested submission of concept notes for possible collaboration, we hope to receive a favorable response in 2025. To strengthen ability of staff to effectively engage with partners for Resource Mobilization opportunities, The Resource Mobilization Specialist developed and shared on a quarterly basis Resource Mobilization & donor intelligence briefs providing detailed guidance on Resource Mobilization trends in ESAR as well as analysis of donor strategic shifts and priorities. The intelligence briefs also provided information on funding status of Regional and Country Offices, shedding light on fundraising gaps against Strategic Notes targets to guide fundraising efforts at the Regional and country offices level. To strengthen UN Women resource mobilization efforts in Uganda, the Resource Mobilization Specialist together with the Regional Director held a successful donor mission in Uganda to amplify support for the country office to strategic donors, held meetings with Chinese, Korea, Netherlands and France Ambassadors to strengthen UN Women partnerships. The meetings were successful, as partners reiterated their support to UN Women, France and Netherlands requested submission of concept notes for possible collaboration in 2025. Strengthening the Resource Mobilization capacity in the region, and empoering staff to effectively advance strategic partnerships, the Resource Mobilization Specialist held introductory meetings with thematic leads at regional and country offices and identified areas of support and capacity building, as a result, a learning road map was developed to guide RM strengthening sessions in Q2,3,4. In total, 19 Resource Mobilization sessions were conducted including : Learning session on best practice for Proposal Development to LEAP Country offices programme design team in ESAR Learning session on Private sector engagement to Deputy Representatives Learning session on Resource mobilization trends, RM good practice, UN Women value proposition for the Kenya Country Office Staff Retreat Learning session on Regional RM trends and donor mapping for ESAR to Country Representatives during the Representatives Annual Retreat Learning session on RM challenges and opportunities and RM innovative approaches for EVAW for the regional and country offices. Learning session on Resource Mobilization status in ESAR, including changing donor landscape, mapping of strategic partners and RM best practices for deputy representatives at the deputy representatives retreat in Kigali, Rwanda. Learning session for the Humanitarian Action community of practice, provided guidance on RM opportunities for humanitarian response, and strategic engagement with humanitarian donors. Learning session for the Governance and Women Political Participation community of practice, held a session on funding trends for WPP and funding opportunities for WPP. Learning session for Gender focal points on RM opportunities and trends on GEWE financing. RM Specialist participated in the Regional dialogue on resource mobilization and partnerships held by HQ PPID, shared experience on RM best practice with other regions globally. Conducted a learning session for Monitoring and Reporting focal points at R/COs on quality donor reporting as a resource mobilization tool, the session also covered best practices on negotiation of reporting requirements during signing of donor agreements. Conducted a learning session with Tanzania Country office during their staff retreat, provided the country office with best practices in sustained RM efforts and GEWE trends in Tanzania, including funding modalities at UN Women. Facilitated Learning webinar for ESAR staff on changing priorities for the EU, on policy alignment and resource mobilization and engagement modalities and different entry points for UN Women following the EU elections. Facilitated learning webinar together with HQ focal points on engagement with French Development Agency (AFD), including signing of MoU for engagement with UN Women. In collaboration with HQ colleagues, facilitated Regional dialogue with Japan MOFA, to ensure UN Women successes and opportunities for collaboration, this was well received by MOFA, and they reiterated their continued interest working with UN Women. Paid a courtesy visit to the Italian Aid Agency Cooperation Regional Office for possible partnership, the meeting was successful, the Head of Office requested UN Women to submit a concept note for possible funding opportunity in Somalia. RM Specialist re-instituted the Regional RM & Partnerships Community of Practice (COP) with a goal of creating a platform for systematic collaboration and sharing of information, ideas, and capacity building in relation to resource mobilization and partnerships. The core objectives of the Regional RM & Partnerships COP are to: Strengthen the capacity of RM and partnerships focal points in the Promote and facilitate knowledge sharing and peer learning between colleagues in the East and Southern Africa region and beyond. Nurture regional collaboration on resource mobilization and Improve the accessibility and dissemination of regional resource mobilization and partnerships materials, updates and information on funding opportunities. Streamline how RM and partnerships-related challenges and organizational limitations are raised by the country offices and subsequently addressed by RO management. We remain confident that these efforts will translate to significant results in fundraising for women and girls’ priorities in the region in 2025 and beyond.

Advancing partnerships, resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale

To strengthen the integration of youth perspectives in GEWE all new SNs (Burudi, Malawi and SAMCO) incorporated gender responsive interventions on youth. To further strengthen GEWE results, support visibility and resource mobilization efforts, two new SNs (Malawi and SAMCO) developed partnership strategies. Additionally, Burundi SN highlights efforts to strengthen existing partnerships including with youth, Civil Society Organizations, Community Based and faith-based organizations, academia, and research institutes, as well as forge new alliances with non-traditional partners and engaging them in collective actions.

Advancing partnerships, resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale

During 2025, ESARO enhanced its partnerships, communication and strategic planning practices with the objective to unlock transformative change for GEWE across ESA, including to mobilize sustainable resources, influence usage of resources, amplify impact and position UN Women as the go to agency. The RO SN evaluation (2025) noted mixed progress in shifting to results-focused partnerships with clearly defined roles and shared ownership of outcomes, and RECs and civil society called for more strategic engagement. These lessons, as well as others, were drawn upon during the development of the new regional Strategic Note 2026-2029. During the new Strategic Note period, ESARO will better leverage the Civil Society Advisory Group and Regional Youth Steering Committee by setting out clear engagement roles and expected outcomes. Targeted Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) will be developed to clarify responsibilities, respective value-adds, identified outcomes, and monitoring mechanisms. The RO will also explore ways to strengthen partnerships with IFIs and the private sector, UN agencies, and funding partners. To achieve this, ESARO not only developed a strategic note based on detailed analysis and consultations with stakeholders, but guided the six COs developing strategic notes (Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa and Rwanda) to define and develop strategies for an integrated, programming approach with strong, strategic resource mobilization plans based on lessons learned, consultations and analysis. ESARO also supported the 13 COs in developing workplans that were based on integrated programmatic approaches and where critical partnerships with key stakeholders were clearly identified and planned for. To ensure impact and scale, the RO will continue to sharpen its strategic focus and investment priorities, diversify strategic partnerships, and drive measurable and inclusive results—positioning UN Women to deliver large-scale, high-impact programmes that accelerate progress on gender equality across ESA.