Region:Asia Pacific
Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%)
outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_1.1
Gender statistics, sex-disaggregated data and knowledge are produced, analyzed and used to inform policymaking, advocacy and accountability for delivering gender equality and women's empowerment results in West and Central Africa Region (SP Outcome 6)
No acticities undertaken this year so outcome does not show any progress
outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_1.2
Global normative frameworks, laws, policies and institutions in West and Central Africa Region are more gender responsive (SP Outcome 1)
3 countries: DRC, Sierra Leone and Liberia adopted affirmative actions in 2022 DRC: In June 2022, the new elections law was adopted including new provisions such as exempting the political parties from the deposit if their lists include 50% of women candidates. While political parties might opt for the deposit and pay instead of having equal representation on the lists, the procedure itself is a significant progress in a country where women are only 12% at the parliament today The Sierra Leone House of Parliament passed the Gender Equality, and Women’s Empowerment Acts in late November 2022 which introduces 30% gender quota in the elective positions. The Political Parties Registration Commission Act adopted in December 2022 also requires political parties to have 30 % nominations of women to elective positions, as well as 30 per cent women in the executives of all cadres of political parties i.e., at ward/ section, institutions, district, and national levels. Non-compliance by political parties to PPRC Act 2022 will result in rejection of submission of Party lists by the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone. In September 2022, the Liberian Legislature passed An Act to amend certain Sections of the New Elections Law (1986) which includes amendments to Section 4.5 on the nomination of candidates. Section 4.5 (1b) and (1c) replaces “endeavor to ensure” and “endeavor to have” with “shall have no less than” 30% of each gender in its governing body and on its candidate lists. Moreover, the Act includes much-needed accountability mechanisms by providing for fines and list rejection
outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_1.3
UN System in West and Central African Region effectively, coherently and systematically contributes to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (SP Outcome 7)
Technical Support provided to gender accountability frameworks by WCARO to UNCTs has repositioned UNWOMeN as a trustful partner for GEWE in the region in COs and in countries in which UNW is not present. Enhanced and continued accountability and commitment of senior leadership and RCs through UNCT SWAP Gender Score Cards across the region system. UN-SWAP, the UNCT-SWAP and the GEM allowed targeted improvements of gender commitments in Niger, Ghana, (GEM), as well as comprehensive new reports on the UNCT SWAP are available in Niger, Sao Tomé and Principe and Cabo Verde UNCTs. Processes launched in CAR, Togo and Benin. As a result, increased partnership has been enhanced and national accountability mechanisms created or redynamised in Guinea, Senegal, DRC and Niger in which RCs have been able to lead discussions on the establishment of a coordination/concertation mechanism for partners working on gender equality and liase with EU, bilateral partners and the government to increase fuds, lead joint programmes. At the country level, thanks to WCARO support, gender focal points of GTGs in 10 countries in WCA have strenghen capacities in gender mainstreaming. GTGs TORs and action plans are aligned with international standards in CIV, DRC, Niger, Liberia, Nigeria, CAR, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone including in humanitarian settings working close with HCTs ( DRC, Niger and CAR as well as the Gambia and Cabo Verde as NRAs). The cross regional event on the roll out on the Standards and Procedures with gender focal points from RCOs and COs from ESAR ROAS and WCAR was a channel to sharing of challenges, lessons learned and best practices of GTGs in advancing GEWE commitments on planning, parternships, financing coordination, monitoring and evaluating GEWE. PPT MERGING SESSION 1 and 2 - 13DEC22-revised version 15 Dec 22.pptx Coordinated approach of WCARO with DCO as PSG member allowed to strengthening gender analysis, gender programming and gender mainstreaming in more than 12 UNSDCF and CCAs in the region throughout virtual/in-person strategic prioritization support on UNSDCF guidance and key UN Programming Principles in The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Madagascar, Togo, CAR, Niger, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Gabon, Sao Tomé and Principe, Mauritania, Senegal and Madagascar. As a result Niger and Cameroon have stand alone outcomes on Gender equality and integrated a twin-track approach to gender in the UNSDCF. Ghana, Cabo Verde are visible gender responsive, Sao Tomé e Principe has increased the gender lens in its analysis. C ross and inter regional and intergovernamental dialogue and partnerships were enhanced through WCARO positioning as R GTG CHair for WCA. The Africa Strategy 2.0 is available and constitutes a concrete outcome and strong position paper on strategies and positioning on GEWE in the continent. ESARO WCARO, Liaison Office and Arab States worked closed with African Union in order to repositioning continental and global agendas using a strong women’s movement speaking with one voice on African women’s priorities and as an opportunity for UN Women to deliver on Agenda 2063 and accelerate the delivery of the SDGs.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_2.1
A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms and standards on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is strengthened and translated into gender-responsive laws, policies, and institutions in West and Central Africa Region.
In 2022, UN Women RO has been influential in positioning gender in post-covid19 recovery policies and reforms in the region. the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement organized the “AfCFTA Conference of Women and Youth in Trade”, the first-ever continental gender and trade policy advocacy, through UN Women’s support via its three regional offices of Arab States, East and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa, https://au-afcfta.org/wyit/ a West African Care advocacy coalition platform established to spur policy evidence, advocacy and change for women’s economic empowerment in the region. This was under the initiative of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the African Development Bank, the UEMOA commission, UNECA and UN Women https://africa.unwomen.org/fr/stories/nouvelle/2022/10/colloque-international-pour-lautonomisation-economique-des-femmes-en-afrique-de-louest Key priorities to support women and girls participation in the green economy in Africa have been integrated in CSW66th Outcome document for Africa; and ECOWAS has adopted a Roadmap for Implementation of CSW66th which includes a pillar on ‘placing women at the center of the green economy’ with key recommendations and reforms. This is the result of UN Women’s research (joint report with AfDB on Green Jobs for Women in Africa); advocacy, and partnership brokering in West Africa (AfDB, GGGI, ECOWAS).
outcome XM-DAC-41146-WCA_D_2.2
More women and girls in West and Central Africa have equitable access to high quality public goods, services, jobs, and resources that are responsive to their needs.
The RO supported the Senegal National Health Insurance Agency (CMU) to adapt services and delivery mechanisms to the needs of female farmers. As a result, , 1000 rural women have enrolled in the national health insurance, and have access to health insurance for the first time, with coverage extending to their family members (circa 7000 people).Showing 1 - 5 of 15
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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).