Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Over 60 local authorities, Government departments and civil society organisations are set to converge in Harare this week for the 2025 Zimbabwe SADC Gender Protocol @Work Summit and Awards, an event aimed at taking stock of progress in advancing gender equality at the local level.
The annual event, hosted by Gender Links Zimbabwe (GLZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, will run from 26 to 28 November, showcasing evidence-based approaches transforming communities.
The Summit, being held under the theme, “Taking stock of gender responsive budgeting and local economic development initiatives in Zimbabwe,” serves as the national qualifying platform for the regional SADC Gender Protocol @Work Summit.
GLZ Country Director, Ms Priscilla Maposa, said the summit was critical for translating regional targets into tangible community benefits.
“The annual summits are fundamentally a platform meant to affirm the good practices that are being done by our local authorities, civil society, and the media,” Ms Maposa said.
“We are moving past theory; we are here to gather solid, evidence-based case studies on how gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive budgeting are directly improving the lives and economies of our communities.”
The event will feature competition across several key categories, with over 60 local authorities showcasing best practices under the Centres of Excellence and Gender Responsive Budgeting categories.
Ms Maposa highlighted the importance of accountability and continuous improvement.
“The theme this year is particularly critical because it forces us to take stock of progress made in gender-responsive budgeting and local economic development programming,” she explained.
“This event is an opportunity for peer learning and knowledge sharing, which is a powerful push factor for improvement in local government programming and service delivery.”
The various categories for the SADC Gender Protocol @Work Summit and Awards clearly showcase the comprehensive breadth of gender work being undertaken at the local level.
The Entrepreneurship category highlights practical steps toward economic empowerment.
This category features participants from the Promoting Gender-Inclusive Local Economic Development programme across 12 councils, including key authorities such as Bulawayo City, Masvingo City and Umguza RDC.
These individuals will showcase flagship enterprises in critical areas such as arts and crafts, clean energy, health and sanitation, horticulture and waste management, demonstrating how gender-inclusive policies translate into viable local businesses.
Furthermore, the summit recognises political champions through the Leadership (Drivers of Change) category, which is dedicated to honouring local government councillors.
These individuals are celebrated for having championed the SADC Gender Protocol and for demonstrating measurable results in their jurisdictions.
Lastly, the Youth Empowerment category ensures the inclusion of future leaders, as it is open to junior councillors who showcase initiatives that successfully amplify the voices and participation of young people in governance and decision-making processes.
The summit will also include thematic project categories addressing urgent social issues such as Climate Justice, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
The Media Excellence category will recognise journalists who produce stories that highlight local economic development, women’s leadership and gender mainstreaming at the local level, linking media documentation to local authority efforts.
