dyton mupawaenda
Herald Reporter
THE UN Women Executive Board has ended a successful weeklong trip to Zimbabwe, highlighting the resilience and strength of women in the country.
This board which is the governing body responsible for providing intergovernmental support and overseeing operational activities of UN Women was in the country from May 4 to 10.
The mission sought to assess the work of UN Women at the country level to help advance gender equality in alignment with UN goals and Zimbabwe’s national development priorities.
During their visit, the delegation met with President Mnangagwa for a courtesy call, discussing the Government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Ms Nicola Clase, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN and president of the UN Executive Board hailed Zimbabwean women for their resilience.
“The purpose of our visit has been to evaluate how women and the broad UN system support Zimbabwe’s national development priorities, general equality and women’s empowerment,” she said.
“We had a very comprehensive programme during a very productive week. We were warmly welcomed in the country, Zimbabwe and we were very honoured to meet His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe ED Mnangagwa.
“We have been encouraged by the resilience and strength we have seen in many women and girls we have met in this country, Zimbabwe this week.”
During the week-long visit, the board engaged with Government officials, civil society representatives, local authorities, private sector partners, the UN country team, international partners and beneficiaries to assess UN Women’s initiatives and their impact on the ground.
The week-long programme was full of interactive discussions, offering delegates insight into critical programming areas such as advocacy, policy dialogue, partnerships, and the simplification and harmonisation of programming approaches.
The UN Women Executive Board toured two women empowerment projects in Bulawayo and Umzingwane.
These included the Umzingwane Safe Market in Esigodini, a facility constructed to address gender-based violence in public spaces as well as the Bulawayo Maker Space innovation hub that aims to catalyse the development and efficiency of women-owned enterprises within the textile industry.
UN Women has been working with local NGOs and community-based organisations under the Spotlight Initiative, a partnership between the European Union and the United Nations, to end violence against women and girls and harmful practices.
The Spotlight Initiative has supported Zimbabwe with a four-year programme worth US$30 million and has benefited over 400 women, enhancing their competitiveness and production levels.
Delegates had the opportunity to analyse results achieved in relation to national development plans, poverty reduction strategies, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).
The delegation’s visit underscores UN-Women’s commitment to fostering collaboration and driving impactful initiatives to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Online Reporter