Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mapping of regional institutions

African countries have signed and ratified different international and regional conventions and declarations as well as protocols that obligate them develop a policy to end discrimination against women and girls. The latest in this chain of commitments is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the continental level, African Member States have Agenda 2063 whose first 10-year Implementation Plan is in line with the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The commitments are in cognizance of the fact that the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (GEWE) is both a human right, a prerequisite for sustainable development as well as being a development imperative.  Of the 17 goals of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, there is a stand-alone goal 5 which envisions to “achieve Gender Equality and empower all women and girls” with 54 gender related indicators. It is important to note that all SDGs are relevant to the achievement of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE). To address partnership  gaps on SDGs, the study targeted Regional Institutions and representatives from Regional inter-parliamentary and intergovernmental institutions and UN economic commissions.  The study involved the review, analysis and synthesis of both published and unpublished literature from various sources. It was complimented by internal consultations with UN Women and key informant interviews that were facilitated through emails, skype, and telephone. The key informants were selected among stakeholders that are currently involved in the implementation of SDGs and GEWE. The report draws on analysis of case studies both at national and regional level as a means of identifying targeted interventions on SDGs and GEWE. Accordingly, this publication has mapped all the 17 SDGs within the GEWE agenda including the various ways in which women and girls will remain key to the attainment of the global goals. Further, the publication has outlined a step by step localization process for the Regional Institution from a Gender Perspective, in terms of what it takes for a country or region to effectively implement the SDGs including step by step analysis and linking this to the MAPs Framework. The publication has also reviewed the roles of various regional institutions on the localization and implementation of Gender related SDGs in terms of collaboration and partnership, Stakeholder participation, capacity building, policy dialogue, consistency and coherence, innovative financing, as well as peer learning and knowledge exchange on gender related SDGs. The publication further showcases the different interventions and efforts such as programmes, advocacy for policy change and intergovernmental work that the UN Women Regional Office for East and Southern Africa has rolled out. The publication also presents the challenges, opportunities, lessons learnt and recommendations for engagement with regional institutions in gender related SDGs. Further it proposes some mitigation factors in terms of challenges, as well as leveraging factors in terms of opportunities.  The study findings will further assist in developing a road map for the successful implementation and localization of SDGs through Regional Institutions.