Gender Empowerment Now! Project

Building Government Institutional Capacity to Mainstream Gender Equality

Envato Elements

On the path to gender equality (Sustainable Development Goal 5), each nation, state or municipality has its own starting point, shaped by a unique cultural identity and socioeconomic and political conditions. And these in turn shape the tools to seek and implement change.

UNITAR supports countries on their paths by enhancing the skills of their people and empowering them to take locally tailored-action. Launched in 2021, the Gender Empowerment Now! The project trains government officials from the Middle East and North Africa so they can effectively implement gender equality initiatives within their institutions.

Gender-responsive budgeting [has] economic and social dimensions that aim [for] the equitable distribution of opportunity between men and women. —Alin Aoun, Executive Assistant of the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon

This programme was made possible by the generous support of UN Women and the Cypriot Government

Programme Snapshot

UNITAR has trained government officials from Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon so they can mainstream gender and help realize gender equality through their public institutions.

Outcomes from the 2024 Cycle

85% of participants agreed that the topics covered resonated deeply with their work in addressing women’s issues.
83% indicated they intended to apply the knowledge acquired in their professional settings.
Pre-training evaluations showed that 55% of attendees considered their knowledge of gender equality to be “fair”. Post-training evaluations indicated that 80% rated their knowledge as “good” or “excellent”.

UNITAR

UNITAR

UNITAR

Project History

2021: 58 officials from Jordan and Lebanon were introduced to the foundations of gender equality, the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations 325 Resolution on Women, Peace and Security
2022: Building on the pilot, 34 officials from Jordan and Lebanon learned how to apply holistic gender mainstreaming in their institutions and to implement and manage policies, projects and strategies for gender equality
2023: 39 officials from Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon practiced advanced, essential leadership and advocacy skills so they could become catalysts for gender empowerment
2024: A new cohort of 29 officials from Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon built their knowledge and skills in leadership and gender-mainstreaming approaches and tools and developed action plans to implement in their work