Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ETH_D_1.3
All people in Ethiopia benefit from an inclusive, resilient and sustainable economy
In 2023, UN Women's efforts continues to focus on fostering an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy in Ethiopia. This is being achieved by supporting advocacy for the adoption of gender-responsive policy and regulatory frameworks that prioritize women's opportunities and contributions to the economy. UN Women’s support has led to the creation of Africa's first gender equality audit manual, a landmark achievement for gender equality. In 2023, UN Women’s support has been instrumental the Federal Audit General's gender audit team to build their capacity to utilize the gender audit manual for a pilot in the Health and Agriculture ministries. The key findings from the pilot with the Ministry of Health uncovered significant gender gaps, including medical errors contributing to maternal deaths, shortfalls in reducing maternal and child mortality rates, and inadequate cervical cancer screening. These ground-breaking findings have prompted the Ministry of Health to develop strategies to decrease maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity, including enhancing healthcare professionals' capabilities and increasing community awareness. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health now implements sex-disaggregated planning to improve women's health, specifically targeting reduced teenage pregnancy rates and increased childbirths with professional healthcare assistance. Furthermore, building on the last year results, the Ethiopian government, influenced by UN Women programming, significantly advanced gender equality integration into its national investment and financing framework. Utilizing the Gender Budget Statement (GBS), which is a forward-looking mechanism to track and make budget allocations to gender equality and women’s empowerment, enabled three ministries (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Industry) , to adopt and pilot the mechanism and guide other sectoral ministries with their experiences. In 2023, for the first time ever, the Ministry of Finance allocated 7 million ETB (around 125,300 USD) for gender equality initiatives, particularly supporting the Ministry of Industry's goal to increase women's participation in the industrial sector to 85%. The Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure introduced a sex-disaggregated biannual plan, for the first time ever, focusing on urban development and gender equality. Key aspects include a 2% increase in adequately planned cities and capacity building of 400 women as planning experts. The plan also includes urbanizing 33 cities with 126 women leading these projects, and a SafetyNet program aimed to improve the living standards of 816,000 citizens, with half of the beneficiaries being women. This approach not only enhances women's leadership roles in significant urban projects but also addresses socio-economic disparities, making a substantial impact on the overall development and inclusivity in Ethiopia. These initiatives across various ministries showcase a comprehensive and holistic approach to embedding gender equality in Ethiopia’s investment and financing framework, laying the groundwork for sustained, gender-responsive policies and initiatives . In 2023, UN Women's collaboration with SOS Sahel, the Organization for Women in Self Employment (WISE), and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA) led to significant outcomes in enhancing women's access to financial and non-financial services and resources in Oromia and the post-conflict areas of Amhara and Tigray. As a result, approximately 6,088 women and girls gained now access business skills and business development services (BDS) such as counselling, networking, and market linkages. This support enabled them to participate more effectively in market-driven businesses and diversify their livelihoods, contributing to their economic empowerment. Additionally, 16 Savings and Credit Cooperatives achieved notable financial milestones in partnership with SoS Sahel, WISE, and MoWSA. The total savings accumulated by members reached 2,084,900 ETB (approximately 36,882 USD) in 2023 compared to 2022 figures amounting to 1,481,170 ETB (approximately 27,946 USD). In addition, the 2023 revolving fund of 7,900,850 ETB (approximately 139,769 USD) was disbursed among members compare to 2022 figures amounting of 4,392,350 (approximately 82,874 USD ). The financial growth was further evidenced by the increase in the initial loan amount from 3,000 ETB in 2022 (approximately 53.07 USD) to 7,000 ETB (approximately 127 USD) in 2023. These achievements underscore UN Women’s commitment to bolstering women’s resilience and economic status in various settings, including those affected by climate and humanitarian challenges. UN Women's efforts in improving women's economic and social status have been marked by enhanced coordination among stakeholders, including government, CSOs, NGOs, and private sector entities. The second national Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) forum, held in 2023, bolstered collaboration in providing gender-responsive financial services. Notably, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia committed to supporting unbanked women and girls, who do not have access to get loans and related financial services from banks, due to inability to fulfil the requirement of banks including collateral and procedural requirements, in piloting its new initiative on digital finance through the platform.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ETH_D_1.4
All people in Ethiopia live in a society resilient to environmental risks and adapted to climate change.
UN Women's strategic collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture has led to significant advancements in gender mainstreaming within the sector. This partnership has been instrumental in developing a gender equality audit manual, laying the groundwork for enhanced gender-responsive practices in agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change. Through the concerted efforts of the ministry's Women and Social Affairs and Rural Land Administration and Use departments, and with robust support from UN Women, there has been a notable shift towards integrating gender equality and social inclusion in policy analysis, guidance, monitoring, and evaluation, with a special emphasis on climate change. This initiative marks a pivotal step towards ensuring equitable participation and benefits for women in Ethiopia's agricultural domain. UN Women’s support on institutionalization of gender mainstreaming at the Ministry of Agriculture in Ethiopia improves gender responsive delivery | UN Women – Africa. Moreover, the establishment and strengthening of Social Analysis and Action (SAA) groups in various locales across the Oromia Region have been pivotal in challenging social norms that impede women's involvement in climate-smart agriculture and resilience building. This effort, supported by technical and financial assistance from UN Women and in collaboration with SOS Sahel Ethiopia, has fostered monthly discussions and decision-making on critical social issues, including Female Genital Mutilation, household gender division of labor, asset management, and participation in farming and business activities. These initiatives have not only improved women's household-level asset management and decision-making capabilities but have also significantly bolstered their engagement in building climate resilience. This transformation in gender relations is a cornerstone for rural women's economic empowerment and equality. Changing Gender Relation for Rural WEE
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ETH_O_1
Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance
In 2023, UN Women senior management actively engaged in national and international forums to reinforce UN Women's mandate, ensuring rigorous accountability to various stakeholders in the area of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE). This involvement facilitated strategic oversight of programme implementation and delivery, offering essential guidance to the country office teams. The Operations Unit was pivotal in maintaining a safe and conducive working environment, implementing robust security measures in collaboration with UN Women Regional and local UN System security teams. Information security protocols were rigorously followed, aligning with corporate standards. Additionally, the office was instrumental in auditing partners and diligently following up on the implementation of audit recommendations, including those from UN Women Internal Audit Service. The Operations Unit also managed procurement services essential for program implementation. Despite facing challenges like limited capacity of implementing partners and delays in fund disbursement due to the introduction of the Quantum system, the Country Office (CO) successfully achieved a 67% overall delivery rate, highlighting its commitment to operational efficiency and result-oriented approaches in challenging circumstances." UN Women ensured effective financial oversight and support for its implementing partners through a structured approach comprising four key components: Risk-Based Assessment: This involved a preliminary evaluation of potential risks associated with each partner, such as fraud, corruption, mismanagement, or non-compliance. Assessments were conducted prior to finalizing partnership agreements, guiding decisions about engagement, cash transfer methods, and the necessity for capacity building. Monitoring and Reporting: A dedicated team jointly overseeing programme and operations tracked and evaluated the financial progress and performance of partners in fulfilling the agreed programme activities. This process included scrutinizing financial reports, receipts, invoices, and verifying narrative reports from partners. Capacity Building and Project Audit Support: UN Women proactively supported partners in enhancing their financial and programme management skills. This was achieved through two face-to-face workshops focused on financial management, programme management, and outcome harvesting, complemented by webinars on risk management and reporting. Further, partners received tailored coaching and technical assistance. In terms of audit support, the country office facilitated partner project audits by reconciling reported expenditures, providing contacts for auditors, briefing partners on audit processes, and following up on audit recommendations. In the 2022 financial year, 18 partners were audited, and all financial findings were resolved by the end of December 2023. Audits of government partners concluded in December 2023, with follow-up on recommendation. The UN Women Ethiopia Country Office's Performance Monitoring Framework (PMF) has been recognized by corporately by UN Women HQ as an exemplary model of effective performance monitoring of Strategic Notes. This distinction underscores PMF's success in providing a robust and comprehensive tool for tracking and evaluating programmatic outcomes. Building on this achievement, Ethiopia Country Office played a pivotal role in sharing their valuable insights and methodologies with the global UN Women community. This collaborative effort aimed to enhance the overall performance monitoring and reporting systems across various UN Women initiatives worldwide. This initiative not only highlights the Ethiopian office's commitment to continuous improvement and accountability but also positions it as one of leading offices in innovative monitoring strategies within the UN Women globally. In 2023, Ethiopia Country Office demonstrated exceptional diligence and efficiency in donor engagement and accountability, achieving a significant milestone in donor report submissions. Throughout the year, the office successfully prepared and submitted 32 high-quality donor reports to partners. Notably, 84% (27 out of 32 were submitted on time: 3 delayed reports for Liaison Office and 2 for Ethiopia Country Office) of these reports were submitted on time, marking a commendable performance in adherence to deadlines. The timely and quality reporting practice of UN Women ECO is a testament to its dedication to transparency and accountability. It plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy and productive relationships with donors, ensuring continued support for our initiatives in gender equality and women's empowerment. This achievement sets a high standard for donor communications and exemplifies the office's ability to meet and exceed the expectations of its valued partners. As a part of its annually scheduled commitment on strengthening the capacities of partners in Results-Based Management (RBM), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and financial management, aligning with the Strategic Note 2021-2025 goals, the 2023 4 days comprehensive training involving diverse partners, including government bodies, NGOs, academic institutions, and corporations, the focus has been held on enhancing understanding and application of RBM, financial management, and the Outcome Harvesting methodology. These initiatives have led to the identification of key areas for future focus, such as project management training and continuous online learning sessions, ensuring that both UN Women staff and partners are well-equipped to deliver high-quality, impactful programming in gender equality and women’s empowerment, Building on feedback from implementing partners and responsible parties, gathered through an online survey during the physical training on Results-Based Management (RBM) and Financial Management, the Ethiopia Country Office initiated the “Learning Fridays series” There were about 30 partner organizations on average who participated. This innovative initiative on enhancing skills in impactful communication of results, while also provided a refresher on data collection tools and digital monitoring and evaluation (M&E) techniques. This initiative underscores ECO's commitment to continuous learning and capacity building among its partners. In a groundbreaking move, UN Women Ethiopia piloted the Outcome Harvesting methodology in collaboration with the Kenya Country Office. This initiative marks the first institutionalization of Outcome Harvesting, aimed at enhancing result-oriented monitoring and reporting. Following two successful Outcome Harvesting sessions have been conducted, yielding reported outcomes for two key programs: Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) & Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE). This comprehensive approach to learning, planning, and outcome measurement reflects UN Women ECO's dedication to operational excellence, stakeholder engagement, and impactful results in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ETH_O_2
Advancing partnerships & resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale
In 2023, the UN Women Ethiopia Country Office made significant advancement in enhancing its communication and advocacy efforts, crucial for advancing gender equality. The team developed and published 20 impactful stories and news briefs, sharing them on the UN Women Africa website and across social media platforms. Additionally, ECO produced six informative factsheets, including one generic for UN Women Ethiopia and five thematic sheets, accompanied by branded folders featuring four distinct designs with photos of program interventions. Video production was a key focus, with seven videos produced in 2023. Three of these were produced in-house, covering various programs including the EVAWG and the support for CRSV survivor IDPs from the northern Ethiopia conflict. The remaining four were created by external companies, focusing on topics like the Care Economy and GiHA project impacts in conflict-affected areas. The introduction of a Quarterly Newsletter in 2023 marked another milestone, with four issues published and disseminated to partners, donors, and UN agencies. This initiative, coupled with the organization of three events for International Women's Day (IWD) attended by 264 individuals, significantly bolstered ECO’s outreach. ECO's social media presence saw impressive growth, with weekly social media plans enhancing the reach and engagement on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, reaching 272,752 users and growing the follower count to 18,466 up from 15,989 in 2022. The communication team's active participation in documenting and sharing 31 events organized by ECO program teams further amplified the office's visibility and impact. These efforts demonstrate UN Women ECO’s commitment to effectively leveraging partnerships, communications, and advocacy to influence and scale the gender equality agenda, while ensuring sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its mandate. This aligns with the broader goal of transforming its business model for greater impact, guided by agile and ethical leadership within a culture of continuous improvement. UN Women successfully convened two critical meetings with key Strategic Note (SN) donors – Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands – during the reporting year, as part of the Strategic Note Consultative Forum. These meetings were pivotal in discussing updates on the 2023 Biennial Work Plan (BWP), the mid-term review of the UN Women SN 2021-2025, and exploring pathways for strategic repositioning alongside addressing implementation challenges and future directions. Furthermore, the second joint partner mission has been conducted by UN Women to review key UN Women achievements in 2023 and meet key government and non-government interlocuters of UN Women programmes, including women and girls survivors of violence, community members, women and young female organized in cooperatives and enterprises, beneficiaries of transformative leadership training, representatives from CSOs and women’s rights organizations, implementing partners and regional government interlocutors and discuss priorities, needs and expectations for 2023 and programs under the framework of the Strategic Note 2021-2025. The Senior Management Team of UN Women emphasized the necessity for intensified resource mobilization efforts in 2023. To support this, field visits were conducted in Tigray, Afar, Somali, and Addis Ababa to assess needs and opportunities. Although a planned visit to Oromia was postponed due to an emergency health situation, valuable insights were gained from interactions with the head of the Oromia Region Women and Social Affairs representative. These field visits culminated in the preparation of thematic discussion papers, which effectively highlighted UN Women's strategic position in Ethiopia's current context. This internal exercise was crucial in identifying key bottlenecks and formulating strategies for the remaining period of the Strategic Note. These discussion papers subsequently provided substantial input for the SN Mid-Term Review. In parallel, as part of the Biennial Work Plan (BWP) 2024-2025, the Country Office (ECO) undertook a revision of its Resource Mobilization (RM) strategy. This revision was particularly aimed at addressing the needs of girls and women in the northern part of Ethiopia, a region that has seen a high number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as reported by the Ethiopian government and UN agencies. The revised RM strategy now incorporates elements such as conducting field visits, preparing discussion papers, and reviewing SN donors' consultative meetings. These components are integral to the strategy's approach to regularly mobilize resources, ensuring that UN Women ECO remains responsive and effective in meeting the evolving needs of its beneficiaries.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ETH_O_3
Advancing business transformation
In line with its strategic commitment to business transformation, the UN Women Country Office has actively participated in the UN Common Premises initiative, collaborating with various UN agencies and international organizations such as UNDP Regional Services Centre, WHO, UNFPA, UN Habitat, UNCDF, and UNITAR. This shared space arrangement not only facilitates inter-agency collaboration and cohesion but also enables the CO to achieve cost efficiencies in terms of rent and utilities. Importantly, it contributes to ensuring the safety and security of our staff and personnel. Furthermore, the establishment of a regional presence in Tigray is a significant step towards the broader outcome of empowering women in post-conflict environments and supporting their rights and livelihoods and attracted inter-agency strong support which led to a development of a joint initiative with IOM which is underway. During the year, a significant development was the relocation of the UN Common Premises to a new site. This move aligns with our efforts to optimize operations and maintain an agile and ethical business model. The relocation is part of our ongoing efforts to adapt and improve our working environment, reflecting our commitment to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. This strategic shift in our physical workspace is integral to our mission of delivering impactful results at scale, underpinned by agile leadership and an efficient, responsive operational framework.Showing 11 - 15 of 17