Outcome 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.

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.

UN Women's programming results for 2023 represent a shift towards institutionalizing gender-sensitive policies and practices, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and ensuring sustained commitment to gender equality in Sri Lanka. The adoption and initiation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP WPS) in Sri Lanka in February 2023 signifies a transformative shift in gender-related policies and practices. Following the significant advocacy, technical advisory and support from UN Women over a period of 4 years, the NAP WPS is now not only adopted but has begun efforts towards implementation, with a structured governance framework in place. UN Women’s contribution towards preventing violence against women through women's economic empowerment has brought about transformative outcomes for women entrepreneurs in Mannar District. The project evaluation findings of increased production, sales, earnings, and profitability demonstrate tangible economic improvements for the beneficiaries. The ability of 60% of respondents to make a 100% contribution to household expenses and save a significant portion of their earnings illustrates this. Their economic empowerment is also reflected in the qualitative change reported by beneficiaries, who express better control over their finances and increased confidence. The perception of safety from violence, both within and outside the home, among 60% to 70% of survey respondents is a critical outcome, showcasing the project's broader impact on creating safer environments for women. Moreover, the unanimous view that women who participated in the programme are more respected by their family members and the community is indicative of a positive societal shift. The high level of agreement (over 90%) among survey respondents regarding the project's positive impact on their knowledge, awareness, and day-to-day business activities underscores a comprehensive improvement in business acumen and skills.