UN Women Rooting for Gender Equality in New Strategic Note

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN) will launch its Strategic Note for the period 2022-2025.

The event will take place on May 17, 2022, at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala.

The purpose of the launch is to raise awareness of UN Women’s new Strategic Note and UN Women’s work in Uganda.

It will also give space for current partners from the government, development partners, private sector, and civil society to engage with the Strategic Note and ensure their buy-in, attracting new potential donors and partners for the achievement of the priority areas.

Speaking to the media, Zebib Kavuma, the Deputy Director for the UN Women Regional Office for Africa, said the UN Women Strategic Note (2022 2026) will see the office consolidate the gains of the last cycle (2016-2021) while expanding further and addressing the emerging challenges in Uganda, such as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“UN Women has registered exponential growth in its programming in Africa and particularly in Uganda which has bolstered the impact of our programs in collaboration with our partners in the country,” she said.

Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, the Acting UN Women Head of Office in Uganda, said that every five years, they earmark priorities aligned with the National Development Plan and in this case the NDPIII.

“These guide our work to support the Government of Uganda to mainstream gender equality and women empowerment,” she said.

She noted that the plan is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Guidance (UNSDCF) and lays out six targeted outcomes that the Country Office will work towards in the next 4 years.

These include; Inclusive and Accountable Governance and Women’s Access to Justice, Women’s Rights Gender Responsive Peace and Security, Women’s increased productivity, income, and access to resources.

“To see vulnerable women have the capacity to mitigate and adapt to Climate Change & Disaster Reductions, women and girls Enjoy Quality Basic Social and Protection Services, Gender Equality and Women Rights Fulfilled in a Culturally Responsive Environment.”

She noted that to implement the outcomes of the Strategic Note, they (UN Women) will work with existing and new partners who share the same vision of a gender-equitable world for women and girls.

“Now, more than ever, leadership to promote gender equality is critical for the world, driven by a common vision and committed to a shared strategy, and UN Women Uganda is well-positioned to deliver on this,” Adekemi noted.

Iddi Mubarak, the Principle Gender Officer at the ministry of gender labor and social development, reaffirmed government‘s commitment to work with UN Women to address the gender issues in the country.

“At the root of the parish development model, is women economic empowerment,” he said.