Outcome BGD_O_2

UN-Women effectively leverages and expands its partnerships, communications and advocacy capabilities to increase support for and financing of the gender equality agenda, while securing sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its own mandate

In 2023, increased engagements with youth, civil society, development partners, sister agencies, and media, coupled with quality communication, have opened new avenues for financing the gender equality agenda. For example, UN Women and UNESCO partnered to mobilize resource to create gender responsive working environment in media and entertainment industry. Key communication and knowledge products, including the Take Five interview with the EU Ambassador , audio-visual stories on ‘ What works to prevent violence against women ’ and ‘ Women's Leadership: Pioneering Climate Action ', and UN Women Bangladesh Newsletter_January-June 2023 positioned UN Women as a key leader on gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). Key development partners, including the Canadian High Commissioner and the European Union Ambassador , appreciated the work of UN Women and reiterated their commitment for collaboration. This led to a funding opportunity with the EU for UN Women work on gender-based violence. Strategic engagement with for other development partners investing in GEWE in Bangladesh was enhanced, through communications and visibility efforts, such as the strategic engagement with the Australian High Commission on a social media campaign for 16 Days of Activism , invoking the participation of ten development partners and ten sister agencies on ending violence against women. Additionally, several initiatives increased visibility of the coordination efforts within the UN system and across the country, such as a UN HR Open Day for encouraging gender parity in the system, high-level round table led by Resident Coordinator’s Office with 30 prominent women leaders of the country to shed light on the existing barriers and challenges faced by women and girls, and a high-level visit of the United Nations Country Team and development partners to Khulna and Barisal divisions in south-central Bangladesh to showcase the experiences of women in climate-vulnerable areas. Additionally, GEWE thematic priorities were highlighted at a national level through joint op-eds published in the country’s leading English newspaper (on Ending Violence against Women ; the Digital Divide and the Sustainable Development Goals Gender Snapshot Report ). These efforts have resulted in bolstering the position of UN Women as the key agency for advancing GEWE as well as commitment from the Resident Coordinator to enhance efforts into mobilizing resources for GEWE. In support of its coordination mandate, UN Women ensured integration of gender equality across different inter-agency mechanisms both at the Dhaka and Cox (Rohingya Response) level (such as UNCT, UN Rohingya Response, Security management Team, Operations Management Team, Programme Management Team, Communications Groups, Monitoring and evaluation, UNSDCF Strategic Priority Groups, Youth Task Team, Head of Sub-Office Group amongst others). PSEA was consistently raised at the SMT; informed by a dedicated survey led by UN Women in Cox Bazaar. Substantive inputs were also provided to UNDSS on the GBV Aide Memoire. Key lessons learned include the need to continue engaging with civil society, development partners, youth and sister agencies on critical GEWE priorities throughout the year. The strategic leadership of UN Women as the co-chair of the Gender Equality Theme Group and Strategic Priority 5 of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework has positioned the Country Office as a reliable partner for GEWE. Continued investment and recognition of sister agencies is critical to maintain a high level of engagement and ownership.

UN-Women effectively leverages and expands its partnerships, communications and advocacy capabilities to increase support for and financing of the gender equality agenda, while securing sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its own mandate

Progress towards this outcome is on track. In 2024, UN Women ensured sustained support for the gender equality agenda through increased engagements with youth, civil society, development partners, sister agencies, and media. As an active member of the UN Thematic Working Group on Youth and Adolescents, UN Women advanced dialogue with youth on a range of issues which eventually informed a joint programme proposal co-developed with UNOPS on young women’s political participation. Advocacy with civil society continued through the newly established UN Women Civil Society Group (CSG). UN Women’s positioning as a thought leader on gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) was further bolstered, through a range of communication and knowledge products, including the Take Five interview with the Swedish Ambassador , audio visuals including a message from the Swedish Ambassador on World Refugee day, UNSILENCED: Stories of Survival, Hope and Activism , UN Women docuseries sheds light on Global Efforts to End Violence Against Women , special interview with International financial institutions advancing gender equality in Bangladesh and during 16 Days of activism A step forward for women’s safety in Bangladesh: The push for sexual harassment legislation , and Mending families, building peace: Women leaders in Cox’s Bazar , UN Women Bangladesh Newsletter January-June 2024 Additionally, UN Women reinforced its position through two strategic partnerships focusing on visibility and outreach. Awareness on digital safety, focusing on tech-facilitated abuse and violence, was increased through an interactive drama platform , developed in collaboration with UNDP, which engaged over 1.5 million people online. A joint social norm change effort “Bangladeshi and Swedish Baba” Photo Exhibition sparked discussions on challenging traditional gender roles and reimagining fatherhood as a shared, nurturing responsibility. The exhibition co-organized by the Embassy of Sweden, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women garnered national attention, through widespread media coverage, and received 3,500 visitors in person and over one million views online. Finally, the office secured sustainable resources to effectively deliver its mandate by mobilizing Strategic Note Direct Funding (SNDF) for the very first time from the Government of Sweden, totalling USD 7.1 million, as well as multi-year funding from the European Union for the first time towards UN Women’s gender-based violence prevention programme, totalling 4.8 million Euro.

UN-Women effectively leverages and expands its partnerships, communications and advocacy capabilities to increase support for and financing of the gender equality agenda, while securing sustainable resourcing for the delivery of its own mandate

There has been substantive progress on this output cluster during the reporting period. In 2022, increased engagements with youth, civil society, donors and media as well as quality communication and knowledge products have opened new avenues for UN Women for financing for the gender equality (GE) agenda. The quality communication and knowledge products including the Photo Essay showcasing stories of resilience to commemorate 50 years of Bangladesh's independence, Gender Equality brief , Joint Inclusion Pledge , video message series with donors and Strategic Note presentations to five development partners (Canada, European Union, Germany, Sweden and the United States) have positioned UN Women to be a key leader on GE. As a result, new discussions with donors for funding opportunity are taking place which will eventually support mobilizing new resources. In addition, UN Women’s leadership in highlighting the gender equality dimensions in emergency response has enabled securing funding from Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to respond to the GE needs during the flash floods of 2022 that severely affected marginalized communities in north-eastern Bangladesh. Visibility has been increased through UN Women’s strategic engagement with the government in campaigning for 16 Days of Activism , engagement with the Speaker of Parliament and parliamentarians , bringing in civil society organizations (CSOs), grassroots voices and reiterating development partner commitments. Additionally, a cohort of national media representatives, including editors and deputy editors, has been formed through strategic engagement with media that is aimed at promoting GE and strengthening reporting against gender-based violence (GBV) through media. GE thematic priorities have been highlighted at a national level through joint op-eds published in the country’s leading English newspaper (on Violence against Women ; on Women’s Unpaid Care Work ). The Youth Mobilization Action Plan was implemented with meaningful engagement of young community leaders , students , and feminists to amplify their voices in advancing GE agenda. UN Women’s advocacy on climate change, and GBV have been strengthened by engaging with inter-generational feminists, climate change activists, CSOs and the government. Young women have now enhanced knowledge on digital safety, digital literacy, social awareness, and appropriate policies through UN Women’s engagement with Brac University and CSO platforms. Key lesson learned include the need to expand and effectively engage wider audience on key GE priorities, which are highlighted, for example, during the 16 Days of Activism commemoration. In 2022, apart from engaging with the government, development partners and other key stakeholders as in previous years during the commemoration, UN Women’s strategic engagement with media also enabled the latter to reflect on the skewed gender parity issues within their own media houses.