Niamey, 1st November 2016 (ECA/SRO-WA) - Within the framework of accelerating the implementation of gender equality and equity as an essential basis for Development interventions, the ECA through its Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SRO-WA) based in Niamey, Niger, and its African Centre for Gender in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, held a one-day training for the entire staff of the United Nations System (UNS) on the inclusion of gender in programmes, activities and other interventions, last Monday, 31 October 2016 at the United Nations House (UNH) in Niamey.
The training, which took place as a very interactive workshop that brought together participants from different UNS Agencies (ECA, UNDP, UN Coordination Team, UNFPA, WFO, FAO, and UNODC) operating in Niger, including the SRO-WA staff, and this, for the purpose of building their capacities on concepts and methodological aspects in the spirit of “Delivering as One”.
This training comes also as a response to the mandate of the United Nations System - Wide Action Plan (UN-SWAP) on integrating gender. Thus, it is the first accountability framework that takes into account the cross-cutting nature of gender issues within the United Nations System, and aims to define, monitor and advance the United Nations (UN) entities towards a common set of standards to which they will adhere so that gender equality and women empowerment become a reality.
Starting with the strategic and operational orientations analysis of the 2014-2018 United Nations Assistance Framework (UNDAF) of Niger and the economic and social diagnosis part of Niger's Country Profile 2015, it was demonstrated the need to carry out in-depth analysis which should helped to formulate respective work plans related to multi-sectoral actions involving key development actors namely: national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector. The carried out groups work have allowed participants not only to apply the gender mainstreaming methodology in development planning but also to identify weaknesses of the two documents in terms of taking into account the gender dimension.
In addition, it was agreed that the consideration of the gender equality issue must be holistic and fully consistent with the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (ODDs) program defined by African States and the entire International Community for the next 15 years, and thereby, contribute to strengthening the said goals.
In all instances, UN agencies have highly appreciated the fact of associating all the UN System staff to such an initiative. And all the participants were delighted with this unique and rich content of this training, which was also an opportunity for experiences sharing and learning-by-doing.
Published by:
Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (ECA/SRO-WA)
Maison des Nations Unies
28 Avenue du Fleuve Niger, P.O. Box 744/ BP 744 Niamey, Niger
Tel: +227 20 72 73 24/20 72 29 61,
Fax: +227 20722894; E-mail: srdcwest@uneca.org
Site web: http://www.uneca.org/sro-wa