High-Level Generation Equality Africa Regional Meeting on Financing for Gender Equality

Dar es Salaam, November 15, 2023 – On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, in collaboration with UN Women and IMF AFRITAC East, will convene a High-Level Meeting on Financing for Gender Equality, bringing together Ministers of Finance and Gender from 22 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The gathering underscores Tanzania's leadership in the Generation Equality initiative, aimed at accelerating investments and implementation for gender equality worldwide.

Progress towards the SDGs, including SDG 5, is lagging. Current data indicates that in Sub-Saharan Africa, gender disparities in income, food security, and access to essential opportunities, among other areas, continue to hinder the advancement of women and girls. These disparities are not only constraining women’s and girls’ potential, but are impeding economic growth and other development outcomes.

The High-Level Dialogue on Financing Gender Equality serves to reaffirm commitments and accelerate efforts, emphasizing the need for significant investments to achieve gender equality, with a focus on strategies to ensure that public expenditures and other financing mechanisms align with the needs and priorities of women.

Key Speakers:

• Hon. President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania
• Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba Minister of Finance, Tanzania
• Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, Minister MCDGWSG, Tanzania
• Antoinette Sayeh, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF (video message)
• Maria-Noel Vaeza, Generation Equality Project Executive and Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, UN Women
• Maxime Houinato, UN Women Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa ai

Countries Participating:

Ministers of Finance and Gender from 22 countries will participate in the event, as well as technical specialists from the respective ministries.

The countries to be represented include: Tanzania, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Madagascar, Senegal, Eritrea, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tchad, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Note to journalists:

Register for virtual participation in the dialogue with Ministers of Finance and Gender here.

Date: 15th November

Time: 08:30am - 05:30pm

Interviews can be arranged with the following UN Women and IMF experts:

• Dr. Maxime Houinato, UN Women Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa ai

• Maria-Noel Vaeza, Generation Equality Project Executive and Senior Advisor to the Executive Director

• Hodan Addou, UN Women Tanzania Representative

• Ms. Lilian Mwamdanga, UN Women Tanzania Programme Specialist for Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Dr, Xiangming Li, Director, IMF Africa Regional Technical Assistance Center (AFRITAC) East

• Dr. Monique Newiak, Deputy Unit Chief, Strategy, Policy and Review Department, IMF

Contact: