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outcome XM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_1.1
By 2026, all people in Zimbabwe, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized, benefit from more accountable institutions and systems for rule of law, human rights and access to justice (CF outcome 4, SP outcome 1).
The Government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated its commitment to advancing women’s and girls’ participation in governance, peacebuilding, and political processes through the launch of the Women, Peace, and Security National Action Plan (WPS NAP) 1325 in 2024. This strategic framework, rooted in the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, aims to strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and security. By enhancing women's participation at all levels of decision-making, including peace negotiations, conflict prevention, and post-conflict reconstruction, the WPS NAP 1325 seeks to foster inclusive and sustainable peace agreements. UN Women played a critical role in building the capacity of partners to develop, adopt, and launch the NAP, marking a significant milestone in promoting women’s leadership in peace and security. Despite the progressive provisions for gender equality enshrined in Zimbabwe's Constitution, challenges persist in translating these commitments into practice. Structural barriers, such as low representation of women in key decision-making platforms across government, the economy, and society, remain evident, as reflected in the outcomes of the 2023 harmonized elections. Persistent gender norms and harmful practices, including high levels of violence against women and child marriages, further hinder progress toward gender equality. In the health sector, women and girls face adverse outcomes, including high maternal mortality rates, unwanted pregnancies that lead to school dropouts and unsafe abortions, all of which have long-term negative impacts. These gaps between policy commitments and practical implementation underscore the urgent need to enhance accountability among policymakers and duty bearers in addressing gender inequality. Legislative intervention is recommended to establish a comprehensive Gender Equality Law that clearly defines obligations to eliminate discrimination and promote gender equality in all spheres of life in Zimbabwe. Such a law would also include accountability mechanisms, empowering rights holders to exercise their agency. To advance this agenda, UN Women strengthened the capacity of six key partners—the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Technical Working Group, MUSASA Project, Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ), and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Zimbabwe—to advocate for the adoption of a Gender Equality Law. This initiative supports the development of gender-responsive legislation aimed at increasing gender parity in women’s leadership roles in public life. As a direct outcome of these efforts, partners such as WCOZ, ZCC, and WALPE conducted community consultations on the proposed law, fostering grassroots engagement and building momentum for legislative reforms to advance gender equality. A Gender Equality Law is an outstanding recommendation of the concluding remarks of the CEDAW Committee to Zimbabwe’s 6h periodic report. In the next report, the Government will be expected to report on progress made.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_1.2
UN system in Zimbabwe is coherently contributes to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls
Through its leadership and coordination mandate, UN Women demonstrated its commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s rights in Zimbabwe. During the reporting period, UN Women was one of five UN agencies selected by the UN Country Team (UNCT) to collaborate with the Government’s designated team in drafting and reviewing Zimbabwe’s SDG VNR III. UN Women led efforts on SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Unlike previous consultant-driven reviews, VNR III employed a multi-stakeholder, collaborative approach that included government and diverse national stakeholders. This inclusive process facilitated broader consultations and collective team-based development, significantly enhancing the quality and impact of the report. As the UN agency responsible for coordinating gender equality efforts, UN Women continued to support the Ministry of Women Affairs and CSOs in implementing and monitoring normative frameworks. Key achievements included the successful submission of two critical human rights reports: the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa and the Beijing +30 Report, submitted to international and regional supervisory bodies, including the African Union. UN Women also collaborated with the Ministry of Women Affairs and CSOs to launch the Beijing +30 commemorations. Hosted by the Minister of Women Affairs, the event was attended by representatives from line ministries, CSOs, faith-based organizations, UN agencies, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe. The launch aimed to accelerate action toward achieving the goals of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, alongside the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality and related SDGs. During the event, the Ministry of Women Affairs shared its 2024 achievements, providing development partners with an update on progress since the first development partner engagement meeting in April 2024.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_2.1
By 2026, all people in Zimbabwe, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised, benefit from more inclusive and sustainable economic growth with decent employment opportunities
In 2024, the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the participation of women and girls in economic activities by reviewing the Broad-Based Women’s Economic Empowerment Framework (BBWEEF). This policy framework remains critical for strategically guiding the implementation of WEE programs nationwide. Effective and efficient implementation of such frameworks is essential to expanding economic opportunities for women. However, significant gaps remain, including the need for gender-responsive monetary and fiscal policies to address persistent disparities. Additionally, greater efforts are required to capitalize the Women’s Microfinance Bank and implement Gender-Responsive Procurement within the public sector to accelerate financial inclusion for women-owned enterprises and expand market access for women entrepreneurs. UN Women played a pivotal role in supporting the government’s capacity to develop and implement key WEE policies and programs. With UN Women’s technical and financial assistance, the Ministry successfully revised and validated the BBWEEF to align with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy I (NDS1) and Vision 2030, which aspires to transform the country into an Upper Middle-Income Economy by 2030. This milestone was informed by empirical evidence from a joint study by UN Women and the Zimbabwe Economic Society, which examined the impact of macroeconomic conditions and austerity measures on women-owned enterprises. This evidence-based approach ensured that the revised BBWEEF (2025–2030) addressed the evolving economic needs of women and identified priority areas for action. UN Women’s 2024 initiatives empowered a total of 966 individuals—comprising 788 women, 178 men, 588 youth, 8 persons with disabilities, and 4 teenage mothers—to access diverse economic opportunities. The impact of these initiatives includes: • 70% receiving training and mentorship in business and technical fields. • 8.4% accessing specialized equipment and decent facilities. • 8.7% being linked to markets and financial service providers. • 18.4% gaining knowledge and access to WEE tools, particularly the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) framework. These results highlight UN Women’s commitment to promoting inclusive economic development and equipping women with the skills, resources, and networks needed to thrive in Zimbabwe’s economy. The outcomes also underscore the importance of strategic partnerships and evidence-based policymaking in driving sustainable progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ZWE_D_3.1
By 2026, all people in Zimbabwe, especially women and girls and those in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities, benefit from equitable and quality social services and protection. (UNSCDF Outcome 1)
In 2024, Zimbabwe made significant strides in its commitment to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls. The government enacted the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Act, aligning the legal framework with the Constitution by outlawing child marriages and raising the legal age of consent to 18. Additionally, the Zimbabwe High Court ruled in December 2024 that abortion resulting from marital rape and the rape of teenage girls is now legal, marking a significant step in women's reproductive rights. Despite these advancements, violence against women and girls remains a major challenge, further exacerbated by the country’s multi-hazard context. In 2024, Zimbabwe faced an El Niño-induced drought, which added complexity to the existing vulnerabilities. In response, UN Women made notable contributions through its HeForShe campaign, engaging men and boys in promoting gender equality and challenging harmful social norms. The Country Office also worked closely with traditional leaders to influence cultural attitudes that perpetuate violence against women and girls. Furthermore, awareness-raising activities were conducted during the 16 Days of Activism to highlight gender-based violence (GBV), and efforts were made to ensure that data is collected and utilized to inform policies and programs addressing GBV. These efforts have contributed to ongoing momentum in the fight to end violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-ZWE_O_1
UN-Women 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, the CO ensured adherence to standard operating procedures and financial policies to maintain integrity in its programmatic ambitions and fiduciary responsibilities. As of January 12, 2024, the CO achieved an 82.58% delivery rate and a 91% utilization rate, as reflected in the Power BI report. The CO met 100% compliance with all financial and operational requirements, conducting regular reviews and updates as necessary. The financial management app is live, and both HQ and the CO maintained continuous monitoring and tracking to ensure ongoing relevance and compliance. Additionally, all 9 donor reports were submitted on time during the reporting period, demonstrating efficient and timely reporting practices.Showing 1 - 5 of 9