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The UN Women Liaison office to the African Union (AU) and Economic Commission for Africa(ECA) has forged a strategic partnership with regional women’s organizations’ and networks to enhance the capacity of gender equality and women’s empowerment advocates for a coordinated engagement in regional policy and decision-making processes. The partnership facilitated strengthened learning, a forum for the sharing of information and development of action plans and improved collaboration among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), networks and regional bodies on the continent.
This is in line with Liaison Office Strategic Note (2022-2025) which is aligned with the global UN Women Strategic Plan (2022-2025), the AU GEWE Strategy (2018-2028), Agenda 2063. In this regard, the UN Women Liaison Office proposes to strengthen the capacity of continental civil society actors towards their effective engagement with AU and other stakeholders in influencing the policies, decisions, initiatives of the African Union and AU Member States.
Since its establishment in 2002, Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network has served as a platform of over 55 civil society organisations promoting gender equality and accountability for women’s rights. It was established during the transformation of OAU to the AU to ensure that women participate and benefit from the process. The network is hosted by Femmes Africa Solidarite (FAS) and has been holding bi-annual CSOs meetings at the margins of the AU Summit of Head of States and Governments to engage AU Member States on African women rights, issues and concerns. The network with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has established its secretariat in Addis Ababa. It has also signed an MoU with the African Union Commission through the AU Women Gender and Development Directorate to provide a framework of cooperation and ensure coordination and sustainability of efforts to empower women and promote gender equality.Building on the ongoing partnership, UN Women committed to continue to strengthen the advocacy capacity of GIMAC’s secretariat by engaging the services of an international consultant-home
based as “GIMAC Network Coordinator” to lead the effective coordination, communication, and management of the GIMAC Network. The coordinator will work closely with GIMAC Network members, UN Women Liaison office to the AUC&ECA, partners and stakeholders to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa. The institutional support continues to contribute to strategic partnerships through GIMAC’s visible presence and impact at the regional and national levels in Africa.
In particular, through the consultancy, UN Women aims to facilitate GIMAC’s engagement with AU Member States and other stakeholders, promote the implementation of the Maputo Protocol, foster positive masculinity, integrate gender considerations into the AfCFTA related processes in line with AU theme for 2023, and strengthen networking and collaboration among civil society organizations and regional bodies. The consultancy aims to amplify GIMAC’s impact at regional and national levels, ultimately contributing to the realization of the UN Women Liaison Office’s strategic goals and the broader vision of achieving gender equality and women’s rights in Africa.
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