Outcome CHN_O_1

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance: UN-Women China office 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.

In 2023, UN Women in China assured principled performance of being an accountable organization with smooth business transition and solid business continuity, effective management of its financial resources and other resources, despite all the challenges and constraints encountered from corporate transition on ERP system and further affected by the COVID infection peak wave in the beginning of the year. Moreover, the office achieved significant progress in advancing UN Women’s mandate on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) within the UN system. In 2023, the office implemented total planned budget of $3.0 million from regular resources and other resources, with delivery rate for total resources at 91% and budget utilization rate at 99%, due to diligent efforts to maintain effective management on financial resources and other resources with accountability, efficiency and transparency. In line with duty of care, the office provided PPE supplies and exercised maximum flexibility for all staff to be accountable whilst managing their personal lives in the challenging COVID peak wave period. When the situation became better, we standardized flexible working arrangement to continue promoting staff caring and well-being. Furthermore, the office achieved 100% compliance rate in Business Continuity and Crisis Management Application (BCCMA), Security and Safety Compliance Survey Certification (SSCSC) and Security Risk Management (SRM) in China. Business Operations Strategy (BOS) of UN China endorsed three gender specific actions incl. promoting Gender Parity, Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP) sourcing and prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), under the leadership of UN Women in China and with support of the Operations Management Team (OMT), which greatly strengthened joint business operations across UN system in China to promote GEWE. The first ever UN Gender Theme Group (UNGTG) retreat was organized in Feb 2023, under the leadership of UN Women and with support from UNFPA, through which stronger collaboration and trust were built among UNGTG members, and skills on leadership, influencing and advocacy were enhanced as well. As the chair of the PSEA Network, UN Women coordinated through the UN system and significantly strengthened the UNCT capacity in preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) in workplace. In October 2023, together with UNFPA and UNICEF, UN women facilitated a joint interactive 1-day workshop with 18 colleagues from 13 UN agencies to jointly elaborate on existing gaps in SEA victims’ assistance, to brainstorm possible solutions for the SEA survivors, to understand the collective benefits and importance of the UNCT joint actions, and to share good practices from different agencies. Following upon that, with partnership with UNICEF and UNFPA, UN Women has drafted the interagency PSEA community-based complaint mechanism (CBCM) standard operating procedures (SOPs) for complaint handling, assistance, investigation and monitoring and will be endorsed in 2024.

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance: UN-Women China office 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.

In 2024, UN Women China office further enhanced its management and oversight of financial and other resources, focusing on accountability, efficiency, and transparency. Internal controls and streamlined business administration were further strengthened through the maintenance and implementation of Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs). The office strictly adhered to monthly checklist requirements and closely tracked performance indicators in the Quarterly Business Report (QBR). With quality assurance in place, the office achieved its key performance indicator targets for 2024. Despite ongoing challenges from the corporate business transition in UN Women’s enterprise resource planning system, the office ensured business operations and project delivery through dedicated commitment and strong team unity. The office implemented a total planned budget of $3.18 million from regular and other resources, achieving a delivery rate of 94% and a budget utilization rate of 99%. In line with corporate requirements, we standardized flexible working arrangements to continue promoting staff care and well-being. Additionally, the office achieved a 100% compliance rate in the Business Continuity and Crisis Management Application (BCCMA), Security and Safety Compliance Survey Certification (SSCSC), and Security Risk Management (SRM) in China. Risk analysis and mitigation effectiveness were reviewed, updated, and timely submitted in the Risk Register. Furthermore, all staff participated in mandatory anti-fraud and risk training provided by the Regional Office on 1 Nov 2024, increasing awareness of fraud red flags and risk indicators, and enhancing understanding of internal controls for corporate compliance. Strong logistics coordination and administrative support were provided during UN Women Executive Director's official visit to China, and we also ensured full compliance with security requirements from both UN Women and UNDSS.

Enhanced coordination, coherence, and accountability of the UN system for commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment

In 2022, adequate guidance, tools, and platforms were established or strengthened for enhancing the coordination, coherence, and accountability of the UN system in China, which includes: 1) Well-functioning Gender Theme Group(GTG) co-chaired by UN Women and UNFPA, with clear Terms of Reference(ToR), an elaborated joint workplan and members from 21 UN agencies, has built synergies across the UN system to advance gender equality and contributed to over 10 joint actions for programme support, advocacy, policy dialogue and advice. From September 2022 to January 2023, the GTG has participated in the piloting of GTG Standards and Procedures(S&P) in Asia-Pacific as one of the four piloting UNCTs in the region. Coordinated by UN Women, senior GTG members shared China GTG’s good practice, and provided inputs and feedback for the roll-out. 2) Established working mechanism of an Inter Agency Team (IAT) coordinated by UN Women completed the 2022 annual assessment of Gender Equality Scorecard. 7 performance indicators were reassessed, previous action points were reported back and the action plan was updated to strengthen the system-wide accountability for the UN Country Team (UNCT) towards gender equality and women's empowerment. As follow-up activities for the previous gender scorecard action points, led by the OMT, with technical support from UN Women, an organizational culture survey for all UN in China personnel was conducted and gender parity data was collected in 2022, demonstrating positive trends towards GEWE within the UN system in China. 3) Localized Gender Equality Marker (GEM) guideline was developed by UN Women with inputs from the RCO to facilitate the process of GEM application in the Joint Work Plan planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, which contributes to mainstream gender in the UNSDCF. Three technical briefing sessions were carried out to the Results Groups and Programme and Monitoring and Evaluation Group as a part of the preparation for the 2023-2024 UNCT Joint Work Plan. The capacity of key focal points, including GTG, Results Groups, Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Group members, and Thematic Groups, was strengthened through an internal gender training for UN personnel in China, regular group meetings for work discussion and knowledge sharing, as well as technical brief sessions of Gender Scorecard and GEM. As a result, colleagues from all groups have increased knowledge to enhance gender equality and women’s empowerment within and across joint programmes and systematic coordination structures. Furthermore, UN Women and UNFPA, as co-chairs of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) network of UN in China, successfully led the development and implementation of 2022 UN China PSEA Action Plan. In 2022, PSEA network conducted mapping exercise to identify achievements and gaps in PSEA of UN agencies in China, held UN personnel training to ensure in-depth understanding of PSEA, and held the first implementing partners training in China, which strengthened the collaboration on PSEA between UN and partners in China. As a result, all the participants from across the UN system and 162 participants from 87 implementing partners were informed of PSEA issues, their rights and obligations towards PSEA, and available measures and remedies against prohibited conduct, towards creating a more harmonious work environment conducive to all staff irrespective of gender and other factors of social diversity. (Linked to DRF SN Output 1.1)

Enhanced coordination, coherence, and accountability of the UN system for commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment

The UN system improved its commitment, knowledge and practices in promoting GEWE through UN Women's leadership in organizing UNGTG, plan its annual workplan and workplan implementation. UN system carried out 2 joint UN social media campaign, with 15 HoAs' messages at IWD and the 16 Days campaign. The UN system also improved its capacity and system in PSEA through system-wide training, as well as gender marker tool development and training for Results Group members. The UN system also re-assessed and reviewed its progress in systematically promoting GEWE through Gender Scorecard exercise, and identified areas for further improvement.