UN Women is the UN agency mandated to promote gender equality and empowerment of women. In the East and Southern Africa Region, the organization has a presence in 13 Countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Multi/Country Offices South Africa, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe). In countries where there is no presence, UN Women collaborates with the resident coordinator's office to advance gender equality.

Uganda's NAP Ill WPS 2021 - 2025 aims at ensuring sustained peace and security through enhanced meaningful participation of women in peace and development processes. The NAP I provides a strategic framework, through the WPS agenda, to mainstream UNSCR 1325 into national development and peace strategies, with the focus on strengthening the effective roles of women in the achievement of long-lasting peace in Uganda (MGLSD, 2021). Specifically, Uganda's NAP Ill aims to: Prevent all forms of violence and promote peace within families, communities and the nation; Promote meaningful participation of women in leadership and governance at all levels; Strengthen the capacity of women to mitigate and prevent natural and human-made disasters; and strengthen the institutional and coordination mechanism for WPS agenda at all levels.

The five years in review publication captures the progress made from 2017 to 2021 across its different focus areas: Leadership and Political Participation, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence Against Women, Data and Statistics, HIV/AIDS and the response to the unfolding crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The brief highlights the purpose of exchange visits, the best practices identified participants, and the key messages of the forum for Civil Society.The main aim of the visits was to get exposure to and gain a better understanding of, countries’ experiences on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and agribusiness practices so as to synergize with national-level lessons for action.

The working paper and accompanying policy brief provide an analysis of the progress and gaps across the continent in promoting young women’s role in decision-making and political processes across Africa. The paper further proposes recommendations for consideration by AU and AU Member States including for gender-responsive COVID 19 response and recovery plans that guarantee the participation and integration of the voices of young women.

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.