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Region:Asia Pacific Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
i-icon World Bank Income Classification:Low Income The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations. i-icon Least Developed Country:Yes Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability. i-icon Gender Inequality Index:0.575 GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa. i-icon Gender Development Index:0.723 GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
i-icon Population:209,497,025 Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision Male:19,976,265 (9.5%) Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
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OVERVIEWRESULTS & RESOURCESOUR PROGRESSSTRATEGIC PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS
ROAS Banner Image 3

outcome XM-DAC-41146-RAS_O_4

UN-Women in the Arab States 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

ROAS achieved a satisfactory internal audit rating, attesting to the accountability in managing both human and financial resources.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RAS_O_5

UN Women in the Arab States 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

During 2022, the Arab States region increased its support for gender equality and women's empowerment due to ROAS ’s expanded its partnership network and leveraged its communications and advocacy capacities. Bahrain now has access to technical policy advisory services are now available to support gender-inclusive national strategies for Agenda 2030 implementation, following conclusion of the agreement to open the new UN Women Bahrain office. The conclusion of this strategic partnership was achieved through leveraging the IB-funded coordination function in the RO, in parallel with strengthening UN Women’s role as (then) NRA member of the UNCT (drawing on the Gender Equality Scorecard and GEM as tools for coordination). The landmark agreement also built on the successful administration and communications coverage by UN Women of two editions of the Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa Global Award for Women's Empowerment. The initial 12 months funding envelope for UN Women Bahrain is USD 563,000, with additional RM opportunities for presence sustainability to be explored in 2023. UN Women increased its influence as a source of information and analysis on GEWE in the Arab States region through its strategic partnership with ITP Media Group. An audience of 2.74 million (up 10 per cent on 2021) was reached through c ollaboration on a campaign for International Women's Day, with editorial value worth USD 1.2 million (up 20 per cent from 2021), provided pro bono by ITP Media Group. The Regional Director continued to speak to a monthly regional audience through her regular column in Harper's Bazaar Arabia, published by ITP Media Group, and UN Women advanced knowledge amongst the private sector in particular of the Women's Empowerment Principles through ad hoc engagement in industry events organised by ITP Media Group with UN Women's support. UN Women ROAS and CNN Arabic engaged through a multiyear strategic partnership, are implementing a communication strategy on 1) the current financial and developmental loss (on family, company, and national level) of not absorbing highly educated women into the job-market, 2) policy and programme solutions for governments and private companies to surge women employment at scale, 3) human stories of success to shift social norms/public opinions. This partnership is a component of the new regional programme on surging women's labour force participation. Standard-setting members of the private sector in Saudi Arabia increased their understanding of the importance of women’s participation and leadership, particularly with regards to innovation in the tech sector. More than 20 women employees from STC and Nokia increased their leadership skills through training provided through UN Women’s partnership with Nokia Saudi Arabia, expanded in scope to include collaboration with STC (and international companies Deutsche Telekom and e&). The training focused on developing a business model by women to respond to the needs and interests of female consumers. Further, UN Women ROAS and Nokia are beginning to create a model to increase the number of women employed in the STEM sector in Saudi Arabia (capable of scaling-up / replication in other contexts). ROAS and Nokia are gathering data through staff and graduate surveys, which will continue in 2023.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RAS_O_6

UN-Women strategically plans for and transforms its business model to deliver impact at scale, through agile and ethical leadership rooted in a continuous improvement culture.

Following the approval of the regions strategic note in February 2022, the ROAS has in 2022 finalized the following to transform its ability to create and measure impact, at scale: 1. WEE programme development, with defined business models and blended financing opportunties defined by end 2022 2. Review and development of Social Norms programme, building on evaluations, lesson learned and well artculated results and indicators measurements. This has been shared with main donor SIDA, with potential funding starting in 2023 secured. 3. Development of WPP programme, with focus and scale for UN-Women across the region 4. HR and staff well-being supported through startegic retreat 5. CO support and Finnish funding used across the region through agreemnet with Representatives 6. RD and DRD representatation in critical fora and agreements with LAS lead to the establishment of critical partnerships/agreements with member states during CSW prep meetings and COP27, with focus on WEE and surging WLFP in the region. 7. Audit of ROAS completed with fully satisfactory outcome 8. Quality assurance missions across the region held 9. EVAW retreat held for region in face-to-toface session at ROAS 10. Strategic partnership with CNN Arabic secured
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RAS_O_7

With its unique and inclusive culture, UN Women is an employer of choice in the Arab States with a diverse and highly performing cadre of personnel that embodies UN values.

Massive investment in staff capacity building contributed to both reduction in high levels of stress and an impressive delivery in programme. Positive feedback from the staff retreat gave testimony to the improved levels of team cohesion and reduction in stress.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-RAS_O_8

UN Women efficiently and effectively discharges of all business processes that advance integrated delivery of its mandate at HQ, Regional and Country levels, including through shared services.

As per output level reports critical support to CO's was provided towards the development and measurement of results/resilience in humanitarin work across the region through the LEAP programme and the unique Gender Responsive Resilience Index. A new programme on social norms was defined/ engaging men and boys. WPP work has been streamlined through a regional programme of engagement delineating UN-Women's niche in the region. A regional Arab States GenTRACK dashboard has been developed, for launch in 2023 (Q1) and the outcomes of the CSW 66 process have delineated member states support to WEE, surging WLFP in key sectors. Critical evaluations (on engaging men and boys) have been conducyed or started (WEE), which are informing scaled, more focused programmes (dare to care) for the region. WEE programme has been refocies towards surgin WLFP in the region, with critical business models established for Jordan, Morocco and Egypt in first instance in 2022. The IBC on Gender Justice has focused its wokr on WEE and EVAW in 2022, towards scaling the UN's impact on WLFPR and EVAW in particular.
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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
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