Outcome AFG_D_1.4

The UN system in Afghanistan, Member States and regional organizations effectively contribute to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Afghanistan

The challenges facing women and girls in Afghanistan are manifold and addressing these challenges is a collective effort wherein many actors are needed. As such, investments in One UN and joint international community advocacy and data remained a critical part of ACO endeavours during 2024. UN Women remained an active member of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Afghanistan. Within the framework of its coordination mandate, UN Women continued to co-chair the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group , and the Women’s Access and Female Staff Participation Working Group with OCHA, UNFPA and the Resident Coordinator’s Office. UN Women furthermore maintained its function as secretariat of the Afghan Women’s Advisory Group to the HCT and as chair of the UN Gender Theme Group (GTG) . UN Women Afghanistan also continued during 2024 to co-chair the Strategic Thematic Working Group on Gender and Human Rights , related to the Framework for International Partnership Support to Afghanistan (2023–25) of the Afghanistan Cooperation Group (ACG), sharing the chair of the most recent sitting (September 2024, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates) with the World Bank and the EU (and prior to that, USAID). Further, for the effective coordination of the UN Strategic Framework (2023-25), UN Women co-chaired (with UNHCR) the Results Group on Social Cohesion, Inclusion, Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Rule of Law (Priority 3) of the Framework. Through these various forums, building upon results achieved during 2023 and prior years, UN Women Afghanistan continued to advance realization of gender-specific initiatives for the UN system in Afghanistan. Examples of key results achieved by the ACO under Outcome AFG_D_1.1 during 2024 are presented below. Development of multiple inter-agency products through the GIHA Working Group to support a women and girl-centred humanitarian response. Networking among the GiHA WG and cross-cutting working groups and subsequent development and rollout of the Minimum Standards for Quality Programming in Afghanistan , providing technical advice and strong advocacy for protective, safer and more gender accountable programme design, planning and delivery, and ensuring that women and girls are not left behind and their voices inform the humanitarian response planning and decision-making. Various achievements via the Gender Theme Group : Secondment of Gender Equality Coordinator to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Afghanistan, which also doubles as the GTG Secretariat – providing technical expertise and advice to the UN system and international community. UNCT SWAP , developed and finalized. UN Gender Parity Strategy produced to spur advancement on gender parity targets and fostering an enabling environment. Technical Guidance for Mainstreaming Gender into Basic Human Needs (BHN) Programming , developed to boost results in this area. Capacity and training needs assessment and development of the UN Personnel Capacity Development Plan and training materials . Training on revised technical guidance on Gender Equality Markers , provided to the Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group and the GTG.

The UN system in Afghanistan, Member States and regional organizations effectively contribute to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Afghanistan

Applicable for reporting from 2024. For 2023, relevant achievement on UN Coordination is captured under Outcome 1.3, Output 1.3.1 specifically.