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.

Assessment of the gender data and capacity gaps in the national statistics system of South Sudan.

This analytical study covered ten countries in the region and looked at issues of access to justice for women and girls in East and Southern Africa.

Renewable, clean energy and gender equality are preconditions for sustainable development and for tackling climate change. This linkage is tacit in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women’s empowerment (Goal 5) and women’s and men’s equal access to secure energy services (Goal 7) are central to building more environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient societies (Goals 13 and 15) (UN Women and UNDP-UNEP PEI, 2015).

This is a convening report for the Regional Sharefair on Gender and Resilience in Africa held by UN Women in collaboration with key partners in November 9th –10th 2016 at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. Focusing on the main theme of “Strengthening Resilience by Empowering Women”, the Sharefair provided a platform for sharing and learning, availed an opportunity to further explore the role of women in building and strengthening resilience and promoted dialogue and sharing of experiences on gender responsive resilience related programmes and policies in Africa. This is expected to accelerate development and humanitarian response and the overall achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sharefair also endeavor to facilitate long term collaboration amongst regional stakeholders with the aim of identifying problems, using data and predictive methods and mobilizing support and resources to incubate, accelerate and scale effective solutions. The outcome of the two-day event was the creation of a strong regional network to amplify resilience solutions, sustaining change in policy and practice within relevant macroeconomic frameworks. Hundreds of participants gathered at the Sharefair to discuss interventions, innovations, good practices, evidence from research and documented data, legal frameworks and policies.

This issue highlights: Africa women leaders demand space for transformative leadership; “Buy from Women” Innovative Platform launched in Rwanda; Adult literacy opens up new opportunities for women farmers in Malawi; Uganda Police Force managers to enforce Gender Responsive Policing; Sudan steps up efforts to integrate women in DDR processes; Snapshots from TICAD VI: Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment critical in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;...

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). In doing so, UN Member States took an historic step in accelerating the Organisation’s goals on gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The highlights of this issue : South Sudanese women set strategic agenda for a Gender-Responsive Peace Agreement - Youth Forum on Africa’s Entrepreneurship and its Endless Opportunities - New Horizon: Gender Planning and budgeting for Mozambican administrators and policy makers - Moving from Normative Frameworks to Enforcement and Delivery of Justice to Survivors of Violence against Women and Girls

UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Regional newsletter of April 2016 The highlights of this issue: Transformational Leadership Training Equips Ethiopian Women to Transform Institutions:The Story of Mrs. Fikre Mulugeta of Ahmara Regional Council Uganda agrees on Gender Statistics to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals Implementation UN Women and Africa UNiTE Launch “Violence Thrives in our Silence” Documentary The Time is NOW: High Level Panel on...

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....

Within UN Women, we think it is crucial that our programmes are evidence-based and build upon lessons learned from previous interventions. Part of this process involves utilizing the lessons and recommendations from the evaluations we conduct. So, in 2015 the Evaluation Unit of UN Women Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Office developed a database on lessons and recommendations from 19 evaluations conducted in the ESA region during 2009 – 2015.

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 highlights of this issue : -Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Launched in Uganda at a Women Leadership Conference -Kenyatta University Leads in Becoming the First HeForShe Academia Champion -UN @ 70 Commemorations in Malawi – 30 October, 2015 -A child miner’s story—Guinea Bissau -The Launch of Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in Blantyre, Malawi -HeForShe - Think Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness) Engagement

The highlights of this issue : -Regional Sharefair on Gender Equality in the Extractives Industries: Building On Good Practices -Gulf African Bank and Tribe Hotel Take a Stand for Gender Equality by Signing Up to the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPS) -A Safe Space to Dream and Hope -UN Women Embarks Heforshe University Impact pilot plan in Uganda -UN Women MCO and Coca Cola Team up to celebrate Small Business Owners during the I Business Journey Yami Event -UN Women And ACTIL Embark...

The highlights of this issue : Youth in Uganda Join UNiTE Campaign to End Violence against Women and Girls HeForShe Launched in Mpumalanga at the South African Bishops’ Conference Mentoring and Empowering Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW) - South African division launches in Johannesburg Celebrating Africa’s Advancement on Gender Equality at the Nairobi +30 Women’s Conference UN Women Uganda Embarks on Strategy to boost Women’s participation in 2016...

The highlights of this month• Africa must rise with and through women, says UN Women Executive Director• UN Women Launches Guide For Gender-Responsive HIV and AIDS Programming in the Extractive Industry• Commonwealth meeting recommends having more women in top positions• A Women’s Investment Fund - New Faces New Voices in Rwanda• UN Women and the Green Belt Movement (GBM) join the world in marking the World Environment Day• …

UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Regional newsletter of May