Eritrea

BACKGROUND

The Government of the State of Eritrea has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995.

Since its establishment in 1979 the National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) has played a major role in empowering the Eritrean women and fostering their participation in the national liberation movement and social justice. At present, the NUEW, a Non-Government Organization, is the sole organization mandated to serve as women's machinery for the advancement of gender equality in the Country.

To achieve its entrusted responsibilities, NUEW is working in close cooperation with concerned government institutions, local/international NGOs and the community at large. Given the magnitude of its responsibilities, however, NUEW is faced with capacity constraints and lack of access to adequate resource allocations.

As the advancement of women and promotion of gender equality is one of the main UNDP development concerns, UNDP Eritrea has been working with NUEW since 1998. UNDP is supporting NUEW in human resource development initiatives in terms of training, provision of social services and enhancement of women's participation in economic activities and self-employment.

OBJECTIVES

In line with the National Gender Action Plan (2003 – 2008) and UNDAF Outcome 5, the achievement of equal opportunities, rights, benefits and obligations for women in all areas of life, this component is aiming to develop the capacity of the National Union of Eritrean Women and other institutional mechanisms that promote gender equality, equity and empowerment of women. .

PROJECT DETAILS

It addresses the gaps that exist at the national level in gender related issues and ensures that development programmes and initiatives are gender responsive by strengthening key government institutions and NGO capacities for gender-sensitive research and analysis, advocacy and communication. In addition, the gender issue as crosscutting is incorporated into all UNDP intervention programmes to ensure gender equality and equity.

To ensure that Institutional mechanisms and socio-cultural practices promote and protect the rights of women and girls and advance gender equity, this component will assist in establishing a Gender Resource and Research Centre under the stewardship of the National Union of Eritrean Women.

This programme will also assist in developing human and institutional capacity to institutionalize gender equality and equity through effective implementation of National Gender Action Plan, CEDAW and other gender related policies and programmes in Eritrea . This contributes to improving the knowledge and skills of institutions to mainstream and incorporate gender perspectives for planning and programming and develop the necessary analytical and methodological tools and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation. In addition, the programme will strengthen NUEW's capacity to formulate and develop advocacy activities that enable the integration of gender concerns in different development programmes. It will also encourage the adoption of positive socio-cultural values and the establishment of norms in support of gender equality, equity and women's empowerment. UNDP, in partnership with UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNICEF and WHO, will support NUEW to undertake advocacy activities.

Finally, UNDP in cooperation with UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and other partners will support the work of NUEW for the promotion of micro credit schemes that ensure women's access to credit , self–employment and integration into the economy

EXPECTED RESULTS

• Advocacy packages in local languages developed and materials disseminated for sensitization