Africa Gender Index Report Global Launch panelists
The African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and UN Women unveiled details of its Africa Gender Index report during a virtual global dissemination event that took place on 01 December 2020. The online event drew more than 150 participants from government, development institutions, the private sector and civil society who discussed ways to accelerate progress for women and girls in Africa.
The Graça Machel Trust Interim, CEO and Programmes Director Dr Shungu Gwarinda joined a panel of experts during the virtual launch of the Global Launch of the Africa Gender Index Report to exchange views on crucial steps and innovative approaches that need to be explored to transform and improve the state of gender equality on the continent.
In her remarks on some best practices that can be used to shape social-economic policies targeting women & priorities moving forward post Covid-19, Dr Gwarinda emphasised on the importance of putting women’s voices at the centre of any solutions by listening to their experiences, needs and solutions through the pandemic. “Making data and information available so that women’s voices have agency and are informed to actively participate in forums targeting them to inform key policies and paying attention to women who operate at the informal sector which has been hard hit by the pandemic, with the hard lockdowns, the border closures that lead to the risk of many women losing their livelihoods,” she said.
Among other things, the report highlights important initiatives and policies being taken across the continent to raise the status of African women and empower them to play an equal role in political, economic and social life. The Africa Gender Index has also highlighted major gender gaps, showing us that there is an urgent need to accelerate and extend these efforts to empower African girls and women.
Read Africa Gender Index 2019 – Methodological and statistical report
Read Africa Gender Index Report 2019 – Analytical report
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.