Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-LKA_D_1.1
By 2027, the people of Sri Lanka live in a society which is more cohesive and strengthened by transformative and rights-based processes and mechanisms which support peaceful coexistence and human rights for all.
Eleven (11) state-owned shelters continued operations during the crux of the economic crisis, 906 SGBV survivors and their children further received relief packages with essentials as a result of UN Women's project interventions, thereby providing a safe refuge for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). A total of 93% of women surveyed who had access to the 11 shelters expressed satisfaction with the shelter support services. UN Women convened constructive discussions around best practices and the rethinking of existing mechanisms through the facilitation of Inter-community Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues (IMDs) at district and divisional levels, bridging the gap between high-level stakeholders and the grassroots. UN Women supported the continued functioning of 11 state-owned shelters during the height of the economic crisis when anecdotal evidence pointed to increased incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in Sri Lanka. These efforts were further complemented with the distribution of relief packages supporting nearly 906 SGBV survivors in an effort to respect their right to basic needs of food, water and shelter. These resources were in alignment with UN Women’s commitment to support peaceful coexistence and human rights for all. 82.8% of respondents observed improved social cohesion in their communities as a result of women's increased participation in community activities, which promoted trust and cooperation between different groups. This was possible because UN Women's skills development training improved women's confidence and economic independence, enhancing their willingness to make a positive contribution to their communities and take on leadership responsibilities.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-LKA_D_2.1
By 2027, women and girls enjoy and are empowered to exercise their full rights, representation, and agency over all aspects of their lives, and live free from discrimination and violence.
There is improved collaboration and coordination among Government actors on implementing and monitoring the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP WPS), as a result of UN Women’s technical and coordination support to the Government. Additionally, more women benefit from, and are engaged in community-led accountability mechanisms, to address root causes of conflict. By providing technical support to UN agencies and Government, while simultaneously building the capacity of local communities and sub-national institutions, the Office significantly contributed to safeguarding the rights of women and girls and enhancing their agency. Pre- and post-workshop evaluations revealed that 62% of respondents reported a strong or good understanding of the NAP WPS. UN Women supported MoWCA by developing a comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework. Based on progress updates from relevant Government stakeholders, 11% of NAP WPS activities are currently ongoing or completed. Beyond government support, UN Women’s programmatic priorities targeted one of the NAP’s core priorities: women’s economic empowerment. Approximately 620 women across four districts gained entrepreneurial and financial planning skills, enhancing their self-reliance and ability to generate income effectively. These trainings have not only increased women’s confidence and leadership capacities but also enabled their meaningful participation in decision-making processes. By fostering networks and alliances, these programs amplified women’s capabilities while also ensuring the continuity and advancement of their businesses. 297 participants developed a deeper understanding of peacebuilding and formed stronger connections with others through UN Women's facilitation of eight inter-community and multi-stakeholder dialogues across four districts to promote women’s engagement in peacebuilding. Of them, 94% of participants reported an increased understanding of women’s engagement in peacebuilding in addition to having made increased connections and networks, through the IMDs. These dialogues addressed issues like interfaith tensions, environmental challenges, and institutional gaps, and informed capacity-building workshops to enhance advocacy and negotiation skills in line with the NAP WPS. Consequently, community-led work plans were developed, and female leaders alongside local institutions, including Divisional Secretariats, have become better equipped to take tangible actions toward sustainable peace. These efforts underscore UN Women’s commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and promoting gender equality through strengthened institutional capacity and grassroots mobilization. In the STEM field, the MakHer program benefitted 123 young women, equipping them with in-demand technical skills and networks to bridge the gap between academic achievement and professional success. While national and global statistics highlight increasing female enrollment in STEM education, the transition into STEM careers remains disproportionately low for women, reflected in low female labour force participation in these sectors. UN Women is addressing this gap through the MakHer program, which fosters young women’s active participation in high-growth industries. The UN system in Sri Lanka demonstrated strengthened collaboration and advocacy for gender equality, driven by UN Women’s leadership as Chair of the UN Gender Task Force (GTF). Accordingly, UN Women facilitated key initiatives, including quarterly closed-door discussions and capacity-building workshops, enhancing the UN system’s responsiveness to advancing women’s rights. Gender mainstreaming workshops strengthened the capacity of UN agencies to integrate gender considerations into programs, resulting in more gender-responsive initiatives. Oversight and technical support for the UNCT-SWAP Gender Scorecard further improved planning, coordination, and resource allocation, ensuring cohesive approaches to addressing women’s rights in Sri Lanka. Finally, results from previous programming in the nexus of women’s economic empowerment and prevention of violence against women (for example, in Mannar) led to the successful mobilizing of resources for longer-term programming on GEWE. This is critical investment towards ensuring women’s agency in all aspects of their lives.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-LKA_O_1
Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance
UN Women has made steady progress on this Output in 2024 to position itself as an accountable and trustworthy organisation committed to advancing the gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) agenda in Sri Lanka. In 2024, the office continued to capacitate its staff on navigating Quantum and managing any externalities to the extent possible. At the time of writing, the office’s delivery rate is 61% (which is expected to increase by the time of submission) while the utilization rate is 98%. The office continued to reach significant results particularly in the early half of the year by reaching crisis-affected populations and ensuring that women’s safe houses and shelters continued to operate. Additionally, the office continued to play a significant role in convening and coordinating on GEWE as the Chair of the inter-agency UN Gender Task Force. This enabled the office to take on a more proactive leadership role in strengthening collaboration between the UNCT and women’s civil society. Given the challenges encountered in both the country and organisational contexts, it is clear that as a Non-Resident Agency (NRA), the UN Women office is seen as a credible and technically-sound partner. It is also evident that for further success, UN Women’s operational capacity would need further organisation-wide consideration to ensure that it is fit-for-purpose and that NRA offices would substantially benefit from further core resource investment to continue to realise concrete results.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-LKA_O_2
Advancing partnerships & resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale:
The office effectively utilized strategic partnerships and communications to increase its visibility among diverse stakeholders including the media, youth, educational institutes, the private sector and traditional donors. Through targeted communications and strategic partnerships, UN Women has successfully positioned itself as a key contributor to advancing gender equality in Sri Lanka. Initiatives like the MakHer Outreach Programme have laid the groundwork for long-term collaborations, such as the project funded by the Republic of Korea to enhance capacities of young women in STEM. Furthermore, through the Gender Task Force, UN Women’s efforts facilitating training on gender-inclusive communication have reinforced its role in mainstreaming gender equality practices within the UN system. The office's exploration of new private sector partnerships has yielded positive results, with companies like Dialog Axiata and Brandix apparel Pvt Ltd becoming WEPs signatories. This engagement underscores the growing interest and commitment from the private sector to support women's economic empowerment. These efforts have not only raised awareness but have also set the stage for sustainable collaborations and resource mobilization, ensuring continued progress in advancing gender equality in the country. Additionally, the office’s ongoing research initiatives provide the foundation for a strengthened, evidence-based resource mobilization strategy. It will also enhance UN Women’s position and profile as a credible and effective partner working on GEWE, given the limited donor funding landscape in the country.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-LKA_O_4
Nurturing an empowered Workforce and advancing an inclusive UN Women culture
The office made significant progress in its commitment to nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing a more inclusive UN Women. All staff members achieved their learning and development goals, including through training, thematic retreats and special assignments. This has yielded results in acquiring new skills and responsibilities, leading to professional development as well as addressing staffing gaps of other offices.Showing 1 - 5 of 6