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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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Country
Year
OVERVIEWRESULTS & RESOURCESOUR PROGRESSSTRATEGIC PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS
Vanuatu

outcome XM-DAC-41146-VUT_D_2.1

Inclusive, effective and representative marketplace groups are created and grow, contributing to gender, social and economic advancement, the elimination of gender-based discrimination and violence and expanded economic opportunities

The involvement with market vendor associations (MVAs) offer women market vendors, under the Markets for Change project, the opportunities to lead MVAs, participate in decision-making, engage in South-to-South exchange, access learning opportunities, and advocate for effective market that enable economic empowerment. All six market vendors associations (MVAs) in Vanuatu continue to be inclusive, effective, and representative under the leadership of strong women leaders. In the six MVAs, all President positions have been taken up by women. Moreover, in all six MVAs, women fill 100% of the executive and leadership roles. This strong leadership presence of women in the MVAs are ensuring that the voice of women are heard and magnified at all levels, and that workplace barriers causes by gender biases are removed. The MVAs have demonstrated good governance, transparency and increasing accountability through effective operations and management. In 2022 three of the MVAs held their Annual General Meetings and also held general eletions from members, resulting in the election of all-women-led executive committees The six MVAs also revised their constitutions,which have been all been adopted. The new constitutions has given the women leaders greater confidence to plan, organize, negotiate, and implement activities. These activities include those which open up social and economic opportunities for market vendors to actively participate in. Increasingly, more and more market vendors are able to claim their rights through active participation the MVAs. Membership is at an all-time high for Vanuatu MVAs at 4,716 (4,635 F, 81 M) i.e 98% women. UN Women provides technical and financial support to the Markets for Change project.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-VUT_D_2.2

Improved socio-economic security of urban and rural women

** Activities and outputs under this Outcome have been deactivated.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-VUT_D_2.3

Local governments and market management are gender responsive and accountable to women market vendor needs

The capacity and commitment of Vanuatu partners to ensure safe and secure market spaces have continued to grow. In 2022, local government and market management across six markets have strengthened the policy landscape within marketplaces, after the development of by-laws for all six markets. The by-laws are gender-responsive and protection-inclusive, with the aim is to ensure that there is provision for safe market spaces including adequate services for vendors. This is an important measure as 98% of vendors in the six markets are women.The by-laws are currently awaiting endorsement by the State Law Office. UN Women provided financial and gender technical inputs towards the consultations and development of the by-laws. In addition market management in all markets have improved communications with market vendors (the majority of whom are women) through the development of communication strategies that are supporting the daily operations and management of markets. The strengthened channels of communications is ensuring that correct and timely information is being shared with market vendors.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-VUT_D_2.4

Markets physical infrastructure and operating systems are improved to make them more sustainable, resilient to disaster risks and climate change, safer and more accessible.

Operations by market management in the six Vanuatu markets continue to improve, ensuring that markets are kept open, adhering to COVID-19 safety regulations and remain clean, hygienic and safe for selling produce and cooked food. The Markets for Change team conducted market infrastructure surveys and audits to confirm that markets are now more gender-responsive, accessible, and disaster resistant. New work undertaken in 2022 include the newly renovated market house extension at Luganville Market that is providing more space for selling and safety from the elements for market vendors, the majority of whom are women. In addition, the new installation of CCTV cameras and public address (PA) systems at Luganville, Port Vila and Marobe markets is contributing to vendor and customer safety by reducing the risk of theft and violence in markets. UN Women provided financial and technical support towards the strengthening of markets operating systems in Vanuatu.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-VUT_D_2.5

Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy

The strong leadership presence of women in market vendors associations (MVAs) in Vanuatu is ensuring that the voice of women is heard and magnified at all levels, and that workplace barriers caused by gender biases are removed. All MVA presidency positions have been taken up by women. In addition, in all six MVAs, women fill all of the executive roles. Moreover, under their leadership, the MVAs have demonstrated good governance, transparency and increasing accountability to the vendors through effective MVA management. This has included opening up social and economic opportunities for market vendors to actively participate. Local governments, market management and other decision-makers show increased commitment to actively engage the MVAs. In many ways, the MVAs are being consulted, informed, and included in discussions and processes such as planning. These duty-bearers have come to appreciate the application of gender-responsive actions for enhanced marketplace operations and management. The evolving policy landscape of the markets in Vanuatu are creating an enabling environment for clean and safe workspaces. Standard operating procedures (SOPs), government health regulations, market disaster management plans and market by-laws are contributing to making markets more gender-responsive, more accessible, safer, and more resilient to disaster risks. New communications instalments (CCTV and PA systems) are improving information flows in the marketplaces, contributing to improved vendor knowledge of marketplace regulations, and overall personal and marketplace safety and security, such as minimizing/eliminating thieving and violence against women vendors and children in the markets. There are indications of improved socio-economic security of women market vendors, shown by their improved their levels of income and savings/ financial capital (loans, credit, savings, investments). About 20 percent of the women market vendors showed financial independence in their businesses and households as well as the capacity to use social and financial services. In addition, 20 percent of female market vendors had improved business and financial skills, including the ability to start and maintain savings and record-keeping, and use online platforms for business. Another percent of women market vendors have expanded their businesses.
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Disclaimer and notes
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
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