Our Progress | UN Women Transparency Portal

More women and girls are protected from violence in West and Central Africa through normative, legal and policy frameworks and strengthened regional and national institutions that promote positive social norms.

In 2024, one law was upheld, resisting threats of repeal. In The Gambia, advocacy efforts successfully mobilized a diverse coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs), government representatives, and religious leaders. Notably, a roundtable event held in May resulted in a strong government stance against repealing the law criminalizing FGM. This represented a pivotal moment in protecting the physical and mental well-being of survivors and reaffirming the nation's commitment to gender equality. The event also prioritized community sensitization and the documentation of nationally representative data to address FGM effectively. A key highlight was the strengthened capacity of the African Commission on People and Human Rights (ACHPR) and the African Committee of Experts on the Welfare of the Child. These bodies were instrumental in engaging national stakeholders to oppose harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM). Additionally, UN Women facilitated dialogues that strengthened advocacy efforts by regional and national stakeholders. A virtual Expert Dialogue on April 22 fostered coordinated action among CSOs to prevent legislative regression in The Gambia. Strategic alliances with organizations like UNICEF and UNFPA bolstered evidence-based advocacy against harmful practices. Overall, while no new laws were explicitly adopted or repealed during this reporting period, significant progress was achieved in resisting legislative rollbacks and reinforcing the legal framework supporting women’s rights. Continued efforts are underway to maintain momentum and achieve more tangible legislative outcomes in upcoming quarters.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_4.1

A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in Peace, Security, Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) settings is strengthened and translated into gender-responsive laws, policies, and institutions in West and Central Africa.

The colloquium of women's organizations from the Sahel, organized in Dakar by UN Women in November 2024, was a key moment in strengthening the voice of women in peace and security processes in the Sahel. The event brought together 120 participants, including members of women's organizations from the Sahel and West Africa, women leaders, activists, civil society representatives, government officials, and international organizations, to discuss the specific challenges faced by women in this crisis-hit region. Participants stressed the need to include women in decision-making processes related to peace and security at both the national and regional levels. It was agreed that their active participation could contribute to lasting peace and reconciliation in the region. One of the most striking results was the emphasis placed on financing women's organizations as a lever for stability. The symposium encouraged greater access for women to economic resources, education, and vocational training, while supporting their role in key sectors such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, and local governance. The symposium also strengthened solidarity networks between women's organizations in Sahelian countries, facilitating better cross-border cooperation to tackle common challenges. The women from these organizations encouraged the creation of regional platforms for women leaders to exchange best practices and coordinate their actions. The participants called for concrete commitments from governments and international players to strengthen women's participation in public policies, particularly in the fields of governance, security, and justice. They also stressed the need to integrate the gender dimension into development and conflict prevention strategies. In short, the symposium highlighted the specific challenges facing Sahelian women and their organizations while laying the foundations for concerted action to ensure their inclusion in peace, security, and development processes. The results underlined that empowering women is not only a fundamental right but also a key factor for stability, peace, and prosperity in the region. A high-level roundtable was organized in February 2024 in Chad with the support of UN Women. It focused on the crucial role of women in these processes, bringing together over 150 participants from countries undergoing political transitions in Africa, namely Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, and Niger. This large-scale event brought together government representatives, political leaders, civil society organizations, experts, and international partners to debate the crucial issues linked to political transitions in these countries. The roundtable provided an opportunity to lay the foundations for synergy between countries in transition, engage in joint reflection on the challenges specific to these countries, and share best practices in inclusive governance. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with political transitions, calling for greater support from the international community to ensure a return to constitutional order.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_4.2

More women and girls in West and Central Africa have equitable access to high quality public goods, services, and resources that are responsive to their needs in Peace, Security , Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) settings.

More women and girls in West and Central Africa now have equitable access to high-quality public goods, services, and resources that are responsive to their specific needs in Peace, Security, Humanitarian, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) settings. Through UN Women’s efforts, women’s organizations across the Sahel have participated in training sessions designed to enhance their roles in humanitarian architecture. These sessions prioritized the development of women’s leadership in humanitarian responses and emphasized their inclusion in the structures of the humanitarian country teams. As a direct result of these initiatives, women and girls who are members of UN Women-supported organizations in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad have gained access to essential information on funding opportunities for their organizations. This achievement highlights UN Women's significant contributions to fostering inclusion, leadership, and empowerment across the region, ensuring that women and girls are key participants in shaping humanitarian and disaster response systems.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_4.3

More women and girls in West and Central Africa exercise their voice, agency and leadership, including through an enabling environment that supports women’s and youth organizations working in Peace, Security, Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) settings.

More women and girls in West and Central Africa now have equitable access to high-quality public goods, services, and resources that are responsive to their specific needs in Peace, Security, Humanitarian, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) settings. Through UN Women’s efforts, women’s organizations across the Sahel have participated in training sessions designed to enhance their roles in humanitarian architecture. These sessions prioritized the development of women’s leadership in humanitarian responses and emphasized their inclusion in the structures of the humanitarian country teams. As a direct result of these initiatives, women and girls who are members of UN Women-supported organizations in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad have gained access to essential information on funding opportunities for their organizations. This achievement highlights UN Women's significant contributions to fostering inclusion, leadership, and empowerment across the region, ensuring that women and girls are key participants in shaping humanitarian and disaster response systems.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_O_1

UN-Women in West and Central Africa is an accountable and trustworthy development organization that manages its financial and other resources with integrity and in line with its programmatic ambitions and fiduciary obligations.

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