Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-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
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-building initiatives, such as training SADC lawyers to address violence against women in elections and supporting women-led organizations through platforms like the AWID Forum, 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.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ESA_D_1.2
Regional women’s movements, networks and organizations use their voice, leadership and agency to hold duty-bearers accountable for their commitments to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls
In 2024, UN Women supported regional women’s movements, networks and organizations to use their voice, leadership and agency to hold duty-bearers accountable for their commitments to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls through monitoring implementation of Beijing and regional normative frameworks. This was illustrated through facilitating key dialogues, platforms, and coalition meetings to enhance the meaningful and safe participation ; 1) regional dialogue on feminist funding, 2) Virtual Roundtable Dialogue on EVAWG Frameworks and Accountability Mechanisms with gender experts from regional bodies, RECs, and CSOs, 3) Establishment of the Civil Society Regional Network (CSRN), 4) Beijing +30 CSO consultations , 5) Regional Women’s Forum with WPS experts on critical role in peacebuilding. Additionally, UN Women strengthened c apacities of women and youth-led organizations to engage in humanitarian work at policy, p rogramming and leadership levels . UN Women supported WPS experts in the region analyzed conflict dynamics in the DRC and Great Lakes Region, proposing gender-responsive strategies to address peace and security challenge.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ESA_D_2.1
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.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ESA_D_2.2
Gender statistics, sex-disaggregated data and knowledge products are produced and used to inform policy making, advocacy and accountability for delivering results on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in ESA region
ESA provided technical support to Instituto Nacional de Estatistica (INE) in Mozambique for the development of their National Gender Statistics Development Plan and to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its eight member states: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda to develop an IGAD gender statistics strategy. The strategy will be used to guide IGAD gender statistics planning processes as well as reource mobilization. We have also made signfiicant progress in documenting the uptake and use of gender data in the Learn from series covering cases of uptake and use of gender data in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya through focus group discussions with users and producers of statistics in those countries.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ESA_D_2.3
The UN system in ESA region is coordinated, and coherently and systematically contributes to progress on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls
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