This study builds on UN Women’s achievements and experience in supporting women and girls during the COVID pandemic within the East and Southern Africa Region and other parts of the world.

This report explores some key indicators of women’s economic empowerment in labour markets and women’s political participation and economic leadership in the Indian Ocean Rim region through three dimensions: resources, agency, and achievements. It highlights good practices, case studies, and challenges and opportunities for investments and initiatives, and provides key recommendations for Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member States and other stakeholders to realize women’s economic empowerment in the region.

The highlights of this issue : Message by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on International Women's Day, 8 March 2016 - IWD commemorations in Botswana: A birthstone for UN Women’s office in Gaborone - UN Women in Ethiopia Commemorates International Women’s Day with Women Innovators and Entrepreneurs - Kenya National Action Plan (KNAP) for the Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 launched on International Women’s Day - Mozambique Celebrates International Women’s Day - International Women’s Day Celebration in Ethiopia - Zimbabwe steps out to step up for gender equality - Launch of the 13th edition of the Women First 5km Run of Ethiopia.

The highlights of this issue : UN Women and Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) Ring the Bell for GenderEquality - Empowered Woman Transforms Lives in Rural Ethiopia - Women Situation Room observes peaceful elections in Uganda - UN Women hosts Women in Energy side event at the 2016 Africa Energy Indaba - UN Women hosts a breakfast meeting on Women, Peace and security at the High Level Ministerial Partnership Forum on Somali - Burundi improves the lives of women and communities by fighting against sexual and gender-based violence...

The highlights of this issue : Using Technology to Empower Women and Girls in Kenya - Launching Courts and Tribunals audiences on SGBV cases - Ms. Ban Soon-Taek visits Menagesha Pottery Cooperative in Ethiopia - UN Women SAMCO Business Skills Training Programme Awarded Bridge Funding for 2016 - The Embassy of Sweden and UN Women sign 3-year agreement to support gen-der equality and women’s empowerment in Uganda - ”No Development without Women’s Rights” – UN Women at the January 2016 Africa Union Summit....

The highlights of this issue : Breaking the Glass Ceiling - The Government of Japan supports Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in South Sudan - Ethiopia commemorates the International Human Rights Day and marks the close of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against Gender-Based Violence ...

The highlights of this issue : UN Women ESARO Hosts the First Joint Regional Peer Review Group Meeting Lives of women entrepreneurs in pottery cooperative in Addis Ababa improved Sudan launches the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) Women Entrepreneurs in Rwanda Call for Improved Access to Financing and Training Opportunities UN Women SAMCO and Edgars UNiTE to Orange the World ACTIL & UN Women ESARO hold a Regional Training for Building Gender Respon-sive National...

The Regional Sharefair was solution-oriented and therefore aimed at sharing knowledge, promoting innovation, good practices, legal frameworks and policies, and exploring opportunities for networking, advocacy and capacity building in support of women in the EI. The Sharefair provided a platform to interact and dialogue with women directly engaged in the EI, as well as governments, private sector, civil society and communities impacted by the EI.