Outcome PAK_O_1

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

The outcome was achieved during the year. The UNSDCF was finalized and signed by the government this year. Within the UNSDCF, UN Women leads the Outcome group on Gender Equality, and led all consultations and technical discussions leading to the finalization of the Outcome 2 problem statement, theory of change and results framework. The UNSDCF will go into implementation from 2023. The commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment of the UN system was exemplified during the monsoon floods in Pakistan. The gender theme group (GTG) - a forum chaired by PCO - was instrumental in integrating gender perspectives in humanitarian response following the disastrous floods of 2022 in Pakistan. PCO mobilized the UNCT to carry out a separate gender needs assessment following the floods, which aimed to inform all flood-response and rehabilitation decision-making. The GTG is now leading this exercise through its technical advisory committee and informing the humanitarian response plan on a regular basis. As chair of the GTG, PCO also finalized the UNCT SWAP Scorecard exercise by engaging a lead consultant and inter-agency team of 12 agencies. The SWAP Scorecard report and action plan have been endorsed by the UNCT and are being taken forward for implementation.

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

There was significant progress made towards this outcome. The GTG, set up by UN Women earlier in the year, met in the reporting quarter with representation from various UN agencies. The first meeting was at the retreat, during which discussions around the upcoming UNSDCF gender outcome were held. The second meeting was held later in the quarter and aimed to leverage joint efforts for the 16 days of activism. The GTG also continued to operate at the provincial level in KP and Balochistan, where similar meetings were held for the same objectives. UN Women also started the UNCT SWAP Scorecard assessment, which is ongoing and will be completed in the first quarter of 2022. With regards to the upcoming UNSDCF, UN Women has been leading on the gender outcome, and is due to go into validation meetings with provincial government counterparts from January 2022.