1. UN Women Ethiopia Country Office/Liaison to AU/ECA UN WOMEN OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO BEIJING +20 AFRICA Presentation to Executive Board Monday, 2 nd February 2015

2.  The Beijing + 20 Review Process in Africa was undertaken in 2014 under the leadership and mandate of UN ECA in partnership with UN Women and African Union Commission.  The review process involved National Reports based on guidelines provided by UNECA and UN Women and culminated in a total submission of 51 out of 54 National Reports by Member States. The Reports can be assessed on http://www.uneca.org/beijing-plus- 20/pages/beijing20-national-reviewshttp://www.uneca.org/beijing-plus- 20/pages/beijing20-national-reviews  The submission of national reports was followed by a synthesis of key achievements, challenges, lessons and emerging issues in Africa by ECA, a regional CSO experts’ meeting to review the draft synthesized Regional Report; a regional CSO Consultation on the ‘Africa we Want’ to provide CSO input and an Inter-ministerial Conference which produced a Communique in November 2014.  The Communique was integrated into the Africa Pre Heads of States’ Ministerial Meeting on AU ‘ Year of Women Empowerment’ and presented to Heads of States in January 2015.  The Beijing + 20 Review Process in Africa was undertaken in 2014 under the leadership and mandate of UN ECA in partnership with UN Women and African Union Commission.  The review process involved National Reports based on guidelines provided by UNECA and UN Women and culminated in a total submission of 51 out of 54 National Reports by Member States. The Reports can be assessed on http://www.uneca.org/beijing-plus- 20/pages/beijing20-national-reviewshttp://www.uneca.org/beijing-plus- 20/pages/beijing20-national-reviews  The submission of national reports was followed by a synthesis of key achievements, challenges, lessons and emerging issues in Africa by ECA, a regional CSO experts’ meeting to review the draft synthesized Regional Report; a regional CSO Consultation on the ‘Africa we Want’ to provide CSO input and an Inter-ministerial Conference which produced a Communique in November 2014.  The Communique was integrated into the Africa Pre Heads of States’ Ministerial Meeting on AU ‘ Year of Women Empowerment’ and presented to Heads of States in January 2015. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

3.  Liaising with the UNECA on progress in the submission of reports and regular follow up with COs to follow up on governments for timely submission.  Launch of Regional campaign on ‘Voices of Girls in Africa ’ in WCAR to bring voices of young women to the B +20 debate.  Convening the Regional CSAGs to promote synergy between the CSO preparations and the intergovernmental process.  Aligning UN Women support among the Regional Offices, including Arab States Regional Office and Ethiopia CO for all the processes leading up to the regional review conference in November 2014.  Coordinating UNCT support to countries with no UN Women field presence.  Financial and technical contribution to Country Reports, Regional CSO technical meeting (October), and the Regional Conference on Beijing+20 (November 2014).  Liaising with the UNECA on progress in the submission of reports and regular follow up with COs to follow up on governments for timely submission.  Launch of Regional campaign on ‘Voices of Girls in Africa ’ in WCAR to bring voices of young women to the B +20 debate.  Convening the Regional CSAGs to promote synergy between the CSO preparations and the intergovernmental process.  Aligning UN Women support among the Regional Offices, including Arab States Regional Office and Ethiopia CO for all the processes leading up to the regional review conference in November 2014.  Coordinating UNCT support to countries with no UN Women field presence.  Financial and technical contribution to Country Reports, Regional CSO technical meeting (October), and the Regional Conference on Beijing+20 (November 2014). UN WOMEN REGIONAL COORDINATION

4.  Direct UNW financial and technical support to government for research, analysis, consultations and writing of the national report (DRC, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, South Sudan etc.)  Coordination of UNCT support and mobilization of additional resources to the national consultative processes (DRC, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda).  Support to organizing consultative stakeholders’ Validation workshops, in Somalia, supported the Ministry of Gender to present National B+20 Report to Cabinet/Prime Minister.  Direct UNW financial and technical support to government for research, analysis, consultations and writing of the national report (DRC, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, South Sudan etc.)  Coordination of UNCT support and mobilization of additional resources to the national consultative processes (DRC, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Rwanda).  Support to organizing consultative stakeholders’ Validation workshops, in Somalia, supported the Ministry of Gender to present National B+20 Report to Cabinet/Prime Minister. CO OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES

5.  Financial Support from UNW COs to Government and CSO delegates to participate in the regional review in Addis Ababa in Nov 2014. (Nigeria, Mali, Liberia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Malawi, Tanzania).  Support to SADC Beijing+20 review prior to the regional review (Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe).  Support to government to launch year long campaign on Beijing +20 (Ethiopia) and in Sierra Leone, launched by the First Lady  Financial Support from UNW COs to Government and CSO delegates to participate in the regional review in Addis Ababa in Nov 2014. (Nigeria, Mali, Liberia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Malawi, Tanzania).  Support to SADC Beijing+20 review prior to the regional review (Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe).  Support to government to launch year long campaign on Beijing +20 (Ethiopia) and in Sierra Leone, launched by the First Lady CO OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES

6. Lessons o Partnership with ECA built on strengths of each organization (ECA for Reports); UN Women (technical/CO presence). o Additional partnership with African Union given the declaration of 2015 as Year of Women ensured B +20 Communique formed basis of Outcome Document Heads of States, identifying priorities for 2015 on women’s empowerment in Africa. Challenges o African Union and ECA Regional Structure includes North Africa while UNW does not. Limited engagement with North Africa. o UNW ECO has only political/relationship liaison functions and not responsible for programmatic activities – problematic given regional offices are in Nairobi/Dakar. Lessons o Partnership with ECA built on strengths of each organization (ECA for Reports); UN Women (technical/CO presence). o Additional partnership with African Union given the declaration of 2015 as Year of Women ensured B +20 Communique formed basis of Outcome Document Heads of States, identifying priorities for 2015 on women’s empowerment in Africa. Challenges o African Union and ECA Regional Structure includes North Africa while UNW does not. Limited engagement with North Africa. o UNW ECO has only political/relationship liaison functions and not responsible for programmatic activities – problematic given regional offices are in Nairobi/Dakar. LESSONS AND CHALLENGES

7. Women Ethiopia Country Office/Liaison to AU/ECA