Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated worldwide economic decline, East and Southern Africa (ESA) has suffered job losses and an increase in poverty, interruptions in healthcare services, and declined nutrition levels. Young adults whose place in the labor market is often informal, temporary, and tenuous at best have suffered greater job and income losses than their parents. As part of ensuring that recovery efforts also reduce the number of youth, young women, not in employment, education, or training (NEET), UN Women in ESA commissioned a quantitative study on the NEET status of youth aged 15-24 years in nine countries in the region. This report summarizes country findings and provides detailed analysis of available NEET data for youth aged 15-24 years with a view to supporting evidence-based policy advocacy and action in this area. This study covers Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.

UN Women amplified women’s role in the COVID-19 response highlighting the significant leadership roles women played in leading the response efforts in materials on COVID-19 prevention disseminated in local languages and hand washing facilities were constructed in 6 elementary schools. 528 returnee migrant women workers from the Middle East and domestic workers across Addis Ababa have been provided with basic sanitation and hygiene training and raising awareness on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women, girls, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.

This publication describes the UN Women Rwanda Office's effort in dealing with Gender-Based Violence (GBV) victims using different approaches in both GBV prevention and response. It also provides success stories from different beneficiaries in relation to legal assistance which showed that in most cases it requires strong courage from the victims to bring the perpetrators to justice especially in the context of negative cultural beliefs, women's economic dependence, fear of discrimination and stigmatization among other challenges. The document also highlights the role of mobile legal clinic in increasing the proximity of legal services to the community including awareness-raising and legal literacy.

The review indicated that Ethiopia has not only ratified many of the conventions and treaties related to refugees and asylum seekers, but also formalized these laws into its Constitution and in the national Refugee Proclamation. However, a closer analysis of the health sector focusing on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (SRMNCAH) services to women and girls in the humanitarian settings, the laws, policies, strategies, guidelines, programs, and plans of the sector indicated a clear gap.

The Strategic Plan 2022–2025 will guide UN Women for the next four years—with an eye toward the 2030 deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It articulates how UN Women will leverage its unique triple mandate to mobilize urgent and sustained action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

It is a reality that our region carries the highest prevalence of child marriage and female genital mutilation in the world, impacting millions of our girls. These harmful traditional practices have devastating impact including loss of life, risk of disease such as fistula, loss of education and life opportunities, trauma and other psycho-social impacts resulting in deepening poverty and perpetuating a cycle of abuse. This calls on us as traditional and religious leaders to urgently assume our role as protectors of our children. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the prevalence of genderbased violence in our countries and communities.

The UN Women WCARO annual report aims to share information about the regional office's activities on women empowerment and gender equality in 2020. The said year has been a particularly difficult year around the world with the COVID-19 pandemic. In West and Central Africa (WCA), women and girls were particularly vulnerable to the crisis. To counter these burdens and build medium and long- term recovery measures, the UN Women WCA Regional Office successfully provided multi-faceted assistance...

This publication highlights findings from the Zanzibar SDGs Gender Indicators Study in the form of infographics. The infographics showcase findings from each of the sectors covered in the report namely: Poverty and Hunger, Health, Decent Work, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Key Messages and the COVID-19 Context, and Recommendations.

The UN Women Tanzania study involved desk review, key informant interviews with the government and CSOs, an analysis of the literature of relevant laws and policies on customary practices as well as a review of land governance and land administration practices in Tanzania was done in August 2017. The study also highlights recommendations to advance women's land rights and tenure security in the context of SDGs.

The IPU–UN Women “Women in politics: 2021” map presents global rankings for women in executive, government, and parliamentary positions as of 1 January 2021. The data shows all-time highs for the number of countries with women Heads of State or Heads of Government, as well as for the global share of women ministers.

The policy paper assesses the state of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Africa in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Informed by evidence from the five African Union (AU) regions, it outlines some of the initiatives implemented in AU Member States. The paper also proposes recommendations towards multi-sectoral response and recovery efforts that address GBV as well as the related needs of women and girls in Africa.

The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic must be viewed with a gendered lens to protect women and girls and address the increase in VAWG during this pandemic. In Ethiopia, this can be accomplished with accelerated and concerted efforts of the Government and the United Nations, in partnership with other development agencies and national civil society organizations. This Policy brief presents overview of the increased in GBV in Ethiopia and give recommendations on measures to be taken to address the issue.