The Somali Stock Exchange, in partnership with UN Women Somalia, hosted the ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’ event on 7th March 2024 to raise awareness of the importance of economic empowerment for women in business growth and development, as well as to highlight the role the private sector can play in creating opportunities for women in the workplace, marketplace, and community, with the focus on investing in women.

The Women, Peace, and Protection joint project, implemented by UN Women, UNDP and UNSOM supported the launch the African Women’s Leadership Network (AWLN)-Somalia Chapter on 4th March 2024 in Mogadishu, Somalia. This milestone came because of leadership of the newly elected leaders of the AWLN Somalia Chapter and a concerted efforts from the UN agencies, Office of the First Lady, Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development-MoWHRD and other stakeholders including civil societies.

Ekatapan Selina's life journey has been one of resilience and determination, marked by challenges and triumphs in equal measure. Born and raised in Turkana, Kenya, Selina, aged 45 years, is now a resident of Katikekile, Moroto district in Karamoja, Uganda.

Lokur Pasca's narrative illuminates the profound impact of addressing social norms and empowering women to tackle the challenges that beset them. Once entrenched in a cycle of domestic violence and financial strife, Lokur's trajectory shifted dramatically through her engagement with the UN Women's Leadership Empowerment Access and Protection (LEAP) Project. Supported by the Government of Japan and executed in partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE) Uganda Chapter, the LEAP project is dedicated to bolstering emergency protection, leadership, service access, and empowerment for women and girls grappling with the intersecting crises of drought and displacement in Uganda. Lokur stands as one among the 2,750 women and girls positively touched by this initiative.

In 2024, UN Women and Nokia embark on the second phase of their global partnership, scaling-up the successful results of phase 1 (Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Kenya 2022-2023) to five regions. The global partnership aims to facilitate women’s empowerment through tailored online solutions. Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development recognizes that “information and communications technology and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies”.

From 27 March – 05 April 2024, 75 girls from Rwanda embarked on a two-week intensive and practical coding, robotics, and innovation bootcamp. Held at the GIZ Digital Transformation Center, the girls were selected from each district across the entire country, recognized by the Ministry of Education as some of the highest achievers in secondary education.

On 28 March 2024, UN Women Rwanda in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, convened over 40 stakeholders from government, development agencies, civil society, media and private sector at Ubumwe Grande hotel to move towards the implementation and realization of Generation Equality Forum commitments. The comprehensive second bi-annual reflection roundtable captured and deliberated the progress made by partners directly contributing to Rwanda’s GEF commitments, specifically by showcasing progress on their targets through interactive focus groups and together established timelines, targets, resources, and assigned clear responsibilities to accelerate implementation by 2026.

In the Arusha region of Northeast Tanzania, a group of women with disabilities is spearheading efforts to ensure their voices are heard in local decision-making. For nearly a year, Paulina Sarwath has chaired the Igo group in the Karatu ward, supported by UN Women. This collective of women with disabilities crafts and sells traditional artifacts and meets regularly to devise strategies for growing their businesses and enhancing the representation of women with disabilities in local leadership so that their needs and priorities are taken into account.

A year since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, UN Women is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence. It is having a devastating impact on the people of Sudan, particularly women and girls. The conflict has reversed the gains made toward democracy and stability, leaving the country in more insecurity and facing a humanitarian crisis.

Sudan’s current conflict, which marks its one year point this week, is having a devastating impact on the people of Sudan, particularly women and girls. The conflict has reversed the gains made toward democracy and stability, leaving the country in suffering and insecurity, while facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. UN Women calls on the international community to ensure that the conflict in Sudan does not become a neglected crisis.

It has been one year of the Sudan crisis and the impact of the war on women and girls in the affected areas is alarming. UN Women East and Southern Africa will be commemorating the day by emphasizing on the need to increase resources, call on international bodies to advocate for peace and highlight the progress that has been made so far through efforts by feminists, activists and implementing partners supporting women and girls during this crisis. 

“During the last 20 years, Sudanese women have been trained in negotiations and mediations. Not because this was a favourable subject for them—but because we’ve had so many crises”, said Shaza Bala Elmahdi, the Sudan Country Director for the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).  Women and women’s organizations were involved in negotiations during the wars with South Sudan and in Darfur, and during the country’s subsequent upheaval.

After war broke out in Sudan in mid-April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), 18-year-old Amna Salih* sheltered in her home to avoid the dangers of the conflict.  One day, there was a knock at the door.

On 15 April 2023, war broke out in Sudan in between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In the year that followed, some 8.2 million people have fled their homes, and an estimated 24.8 million are projected to need humanitarian assistance in 2024.  As the conflict reaches its one-year mark, women and children are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with 19 million school-age children out of the classroom and more than 100 reports of sexual violence.

Investing in gender data is a viable strategy to accelerate progress for all. As the curtain falls on celebrations to mark International Women’s Day 2024 (IWD2024), this is the resounding message from media experts, public finance officials, statisticians, and development experts in African and Arab States.

UN Women in Zimbabwe hosted members of the diplomatic corps and their spouses, Representatives of Government and the United Nations including the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office to an International Women’s Day Reception and Panel Discussion focusing on Investing in Women and Accelerating progress. The event, held in Harare served as a multi-stakeholder platform for key partners to reflect, cross-share insights and make a joint clarion call for increased investments towards Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Zimbabwe.

The strength of Sudanese women has endured, even before the war started on April 15th 2023. Despite facing tough times and challenges over many years, they stayed strong, facing difficulties with courage and determination, kept their families and communities strong, advocating for peace every step of the way.

Maria Isdory is a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Tabora region in western Tanzania. Through the partnership between UN Women and the Tanzania Women’s Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) to promote women entrepreneurs in cross-border trade, she is one of many who have seen a significant increase in income. Maria has not only gained the skills and confidence to run her business but also to empower others.

Cervical cancer claims more lives among women in Tanzania than any other illness. Each year, approximately 10,241 women between the ages of 15 and 44 are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 6,525 lose their lives as a consequence of delayed diagnosis. Studies suggest that women living with HIV are up to six times more likely to develop this cancer than those without the virus. UN Women Tanzania works with partners and local networks of women living with HIV on a project to promote awareness and advocate for cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment among low-income women and those living with HIV.

In the heart of Mundari, Western Equatoria, South Sudan, International Women's Day 2024 unfolded not just as a day of celebration but as a beacon of empowerment and resilience. Under the theme "Invest in Women, Accelerated Progress," and a national theme “ Accelerate Gender Equality through inclusion and access to productive resources for women and girls” UN Women South Sudan, in collaboration with Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, UNICEF, FAO, UNFPA, WFP and UNEP orchestrated an eventful day that celebrated the spirit of resilience and empowerment that women embody but also laid the groundwork for meaningful inclusion, participation, positive change and empowerment in the lives of South Sudanese women.