The Project Affirmative Procurement Reform in West Africa supports women economic empowerment through policy reforms, institutional strengthening of public sector institutions and capacity building of women-owned/-led businesses to access procurement opportunities in Senegal, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali. This newsletter is distributed every six months, covering the journey of the project implementation across the most important events, outcomes, perspectives and other relevant information on gender responsive procurement.

Gender responsive approaches in Climate Smart Agriculture.

The policy brief aims to serve as an synthesizes and presents key findings from UN Women-led research; regional online surveys and; advocacy on. making the AfCFTA work for (young) women and (young) women-led businesses, both in the design and implementation of gender-responsive AfCFTA policy reforms and complementary measures, as well as in the soon-to-be negotiated AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.

Despite the gender, climatic and conflict situation in Somalia, there are opportunities to ensure crop farming and livestock rearing. Women’s participation in agricultural activities also varies depending on where they live. Women living in their regular settings were more likely to participate in agriculture compared to their counterparts who live in IDP settings. The research is aimed at promoting women's resilience to climate and enhancing livelihoods.

Empowering women in the economy and closing gender gaps in the workspace is key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Somalia. The host community landowners and IDP casual laborers can jointly build their skills in climate-smart agriculture that can benefit the productivity of farms whilst also building the knowledge and skill set of IDPs.

The transition to a green economy will create many new jobs around the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa. But will women share-in these new jobs, and will the economic transformation help them move into higher-paid, more stable jobs that require more education and skills? The short answer is “yes” – provided countries adopt strong policies and programmes to make it happen. The green economy transition is attracting attention in policy circles but its potential gender...

The publication aims to provide information that helps prepare the youth for an inclusive, environment sensitive, and resilient approach to productive livelihoods.

The publication aims to serve as an advocacy report on gender issues and contributing to efforts in strengthening regional norms and policies on women and youth’s economic empowerment.

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 brief presents emerging evidence on the role the private sector can play in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria by highlighting the key measures companies can take to move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility to combine profits with gender progress. Realizing the growing need for gender equality is also germane to the survival and development of girls and the building of healthy communities, a healthy society, and a healthy nation. The economic...

UN Women, Findev Canada and the African Fintech Advisory – Lelapa, facilitated in November 2019 a co-creation workshop bringing together investment officers from Development Finance Institutions and female Fund Managers from across Africa, specialized in financing women-led businesses. This report, which presents the results of the workshop, includes perspectives of both constituencies on blockages to make DFI finance flow to women SMEs in the continent, and identifies concrete proposals...

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.

Ensuring adequate financing for gender equality is central to implementing and achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 51 and all gender targets across the framework. The principle of proper financing for gender equality is rooted in the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action (para 345 and 346) adopted in 1995. Inadequate financing hinders the implementation of gender-responsive laws and policies.

The study identifies policy proposals —consistent with Uganda’s Second National Development Plan, Public Finance Management Act and Agriculture Sector Strategic Plan — to confront gender stereotypes and address women’s time poverty and lack of assets, the lack of attention to gender-responsive climate-smart agricultural extension services, and the need to reform key statistical instruments to better capture gender relations.

The study makes policy recommendations that are designed to confront the gender stereotypes that continue to undermine policy making, address women’s time poverty and lack of incomes, and facilitate the adoption of gender-responsive climate-smart agricultural practices.

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...

It is with great pleasure that we reach out to you following a highly successful launch of the HeForShe campaign in Ethiopia and subsequent months of strong commitment pledged to the Campaign. The December launch at Capital Hotel was a beautiful event where men and women came together to boldly declare that gender equality is not just a women’s issue, it is a human rights issue. Since the launch an increasing number of men have signed up for the Campaign, recognizing that we must all be equal partners to create a gender equal world...

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 ...