| A Review of the African Union’s Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment INTRODUCTION The African Union’s Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) holds the promise of transforming the lives of women and girls in Africa. With its vision of an Africa driven by the potential of its women and youth, the strategy aims to realize full gender equality in all spheres of life. Through a comprehensive approach and targeted interventions, the AU seeks to address the root causes of gender inequality and empower women across the continent. However, to make the strategy work effectively, certain key areas need to be addressed. THE VISION OF THE AFRICAN UNION’S STRATEGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT The vision of the African Union’s Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment is to create an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa. It envisions a continent where development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by African people, especially women and youth, and caring for children. By harnessing the power of gender equality, the strategy aims to propel Africa forward as a dynamic force in the international arena. AN OVER VIEW OF THE PILLARS OF THE AFRICAN UNION’S STRATEGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT PILLARS: The African Union’s Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment is built upon four pillars, each addressing crucial aspects of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The first pillar, Maximizing Opportunities, Outcomes, and E-TECH Dividends, recognizes the importance of economic empowerment for women. It aims to provide equal access to quality education and control over productive resources. This pillar emphasizes outcomes such as compulsory and free education for girls, vocational training, economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and promoting women’s active participation in the technological space. The second pillar, Dignity, Security, and Resilience, highlights the significance of dignity, security, and resilience for women’s empowerment. It addresses issues such as sexual and reproductive health and rights, violence against women and girls, and human security. By ensuring the protection, well-being, and active participation of women, this pillar contributes to gender equality and peace-building efforts. The third pillar, Effective Laws, Policies, and Institutions, focuses on aligning legal frameworks, policies, and institutions with the goal of gender equality. It aims to bridge the gap between existing provisions and the reality faced by women. The pillar advocates for legislative reforms, the protection of women’s rights, and the establishment of gender-responsive institutions and governance systems. The fourth pillar, Leadership, Voice, and Visibility, recognizes the importance of women’s representation and participation in decision-making processes. It seeks to create equal opportunities for women in leadership roles, enable women to have a voice and agency in various spheres, and promote their visibility in media, literature, and cultural resources. This pillar aims to challenge existing norms and barriers, empowering women as leaders and contributors to society. THE WEAKNESES OF THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE AFRICAN UNION’S STRATEGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT The strategy’s four pillars outline key areas for intervention. However, an imbalance exists in terms of the level of attention and resources allocated to each pillar. Imbalance attention and emphasis to the Pillars: while pillar 1 focused on maximizing economic outcomes with with emphasis on economic empowerment other pillars, such as dignity, security, and effective laws, policies, and institutions, received relatively less attention. This imbalance undermines the holistic approach required for achieving gender equality. Secondly, the strategy lacks a robust system for monitoring and holding accountable the institutions and organs responsible for implementation. Without effective mechanisms to ensure compliance and assess progress, the strategy risks becoming a mere rhetorical exercise. Transparent and accountable governance structures are essential to measure the strategy’s impact and hold stakeholders accountable for their commitments. Thirdly, the strategy’s ambitious goals require substantial financial resources for effective implementation. However, the strategy falls short in providing a detailed plan for resource mobilization and allocation. Insufficient funding hampers the strategy’s ability to achieve meaningful outcomes. It is crucial for the AU and its partners to develop concrete strategies to secure sustainable funding and allocate resources effectively to ensure the strategy’s success. Fourth, While the strategy acknowledges the influence of patriarchal norms and harmful cultural practices, it lacks a comprehensive approach to address them. Transforming social norms is crucial for sustainable change, yet the strategy provides limited guidance on how to challenge deeply ingrained gender biases and discriminatory practices. To achieve lasting gender equality, the strategy should place greater emphasis on dismantling patriarchal structures and promoting cultural shifts. lastly, the strategy acknowledges the importance of engaging civil society organizations (CSOs) but fails to outline a clear framework for their meaningful involvement. CSOs play a vital role in advocating for gender equality and holding governments accountable. Their active participation is essential for the successful implementation of the strategy. The AU should prioritize building strong partnerships with CSOs and ensure their meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes. MAKING THE AFRICAN UNION’S STRATEGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORK To make the African Union’s Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment work effectively, certain steps need to be taken. Firstly, strengthening implementation mechanisms is essential. Clear guidelines, timelines, and responsibilities should be established for each pillar and outcome of the strategy. Adequate coordination and collaboration among African Union member states, regional economic communities, and civil society organizations are crucial to drive progress and overcome implementation challenges. Mobilizing resources is another critical aspect of making the strategy work. The African Union should actively engage with international partners, private sector entities, and development finance institutions to mobilize funding for gender equality initiatives. Additionally, governments should prioritize budget allocations for gender-related programs and ensure efficient utilization of resources to maximize impact. Addressing legal and policy gaps is essential to promote gender equality. A comprehensive review and revision of national laws and policies should be undertaken to align them with international commitments and regional frameworks. The implementation of existing protocols, such as the Maputo Protocol, must be closely monitored and enforced to protect and fulfill women’s rights across the continent. Transforming social norms is a vital step toward achieving sustainable gender equality. The African Union should develop targeted campaigns to challenge harmful traditional practices, stereotypes, and patriarchal attitudes. Engaging community leaders, religious institutions, media, and educational institutions can help promote gender equality, foster respectful relationships, and empower women and girls. To ensure progress is tracked and gaps are identified, the African Union needs to establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Comprehensive data collection, regular reporting, and analysis will enable evidence-based decision-making. By monitoring the implementation of the strategy, the AU can identify successful practices and areas requiring improvement, enhancing accountability and learning. Enhancing partnerships is crucial for the success of the strategy. The African Union should collaborate closely with civil society organizations, regional bodies, international organizations, and the private sector. These partnerships can facilitate knowledge sharing, resource mobilization, and coordination of efforts, leading to greater collective impact. Capacity building and knowledge sharing initiatives are essential for effective implementation. Training, technical support, and knowledge sharing platforms should be provided to governments, institutions, and civil society organizations. By enhancing the capacity of stakeholders, the African Union can strengthen their ability to drive change, implement gender-responsive policies, and promote women’s empowerment. Lastly, inclusivity should be prioritized in the strategy. The African Union should consider the diverse needs and experiences of women across the continent. This includes focusing on marginalized groups, such as rural women, women with disabilities, and migrant women, and developing targeted interventions to address their specific challenges. Engaging youth and men as active allies in advancing gender equality is also crucial. In conclusion, to make the African Union’s Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment work effectively, addressing the issues of implementation mechanisms, resource mobilization, legal and policy gaps, social norms, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships, capacity building, and inclusivity is of utmost importance. By taking these actions, the African Union can drive meaningful change and progress towards gender equality, ultimately empowering women and girls across the African continent. TO DOWNLOAD THE THE AFRICAN UNION’S STRATEGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT CLICK HERE Reviewed By Gender and Development Research Team of YAPORH |
