Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
THE United Nations Development Programme has launched the EQUANOMICS initiative in Zimbabwe, a programme designed to transform fiscal policy and public finance into tools for advancing gender equality.
The EQUANOMICS is the UNDP’s flagship initiative to dismantle economic structures that perpetuate gender inequality, creating economies that work for everyone.
It is understood that the programme focuses on three key areas, which include expanding care systems, developing gender-responsive policies like gender-responsive budgeting and tax reforms, and generating data to inform policy.
By integrating gender equality into fiscal policies and financial frameworks, EQUANOMICS aims to achieve equal economic opportunities for women and align finance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
In a statement yesterday, the UNDP Zimbabwe said the launch took place during the 2025 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo recently.
“The event was attended by more than 100 stakeholders from Government, civil society, academia, and the private sector convened to explore practical pathways to embed gender considerations into economic governance,” said the UNDP Zimbabwe.
Among the guests were the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Mavis Sibanda; senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Energy and Power Development; UNDP Zimbabwe Deputy Resident Representative OiC, Mr Lealem Dinku as well as leaders from SMEDCO and the Bulawayo City Council.
“The participants examined pressing issues including, gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) and strategies for institutional adoption, tax justice and equity, with proposals for gender-sensitive tax reforms, simplified tax regimes for women informal traders and SMEs,” said the UNDP Zimbabwe.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative OiC, Mr Lealem Dinku, said despite noting progress in human development, entrenched economic disparities endure – disproportionately affecting women, girls and other disadvantaged groups.
National Coordinator for Tax for SDGs, Mr Melusi Tshuma, said the EQUANOMICS will reshape Zimbabwe’s fiscal landscape.
