Gender PreSummit Women Gender and Development Directorate WGDD

Gender Pre-Summit Women Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD)

2017 theme: “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth”. The achievements realized: • Alignment of AU Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy with Agenda 2063 and harmonization with national and regional; evaluation of the current gender policy adopted in 2009 was done and the development of the AU Gender Strategy • Alignment of the Fund for African Women with Agenda 2063; a call for proposals on the 2016 and 2017 was made focusing on themes on ‘Finance and Gender Budgets'' and “Mentoring Youth (Men and Women) and the AU commissioned a situational analysis of the financing of the projects to better proceed with the granting of 2014 -2015, 2016 -2017 projects. • Strengthening of AU institutional learning capacity; WGDD realized drafting of several key policies, including the policy on sexual harassment, which will form part of the Gender Toolbox.

Cont. • Enhancement of partnerships and advocacy; the Directorate launched the African Women Leaders' Network at UN Headquarters in June 2017, celebrated the International Women’s Day (March 8) and Pan African Women’s Day (July 31) and observed the 16 Days of Activism of Violence Against Women • Knowledge Generation; the AU in partnership with the UN launched two reports: State of Women’s Rights in Africa and Rapid Assessment on Funding Status of Gender Machineries in African Union Member States. • Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; the Member States were able to submit 28 reports which was the highest number since reporting on this instrument started in 2006 • Ratification and domestication of the Maputo Protocol; 39 Member States have ratified the Maputo Protocol.

2018 theme: “Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”. Output/activities in 2018 will focus on: • New AU Gender strategy is rolled out • The redesigned Fund for African Women is implemented • AU Gender Observatory is implemented • Leaning and institutional capacity is strengthened • Assess gender dimensions in conflict prevention and resolution (PSD)