Joint Programme on Gender Equality empowers Women

The UN Joint Programme on Gender Equality (JPGE) - a SIDA (Sweden) funded programme, was developed broadly aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality. The different components: Pillar I on ‘promoting women’s security and combating gender-based violence’; Pillar II on ‘women’s political participation and influence’ and Pillar IV on ‘national accountability on gender equality and women’s empowerment’ are being implemented by UNFPA, UNDP and UN WOMEN, respectively. The ILO has the co-responsibility of implementing Pillar III whose focus is on women’s economic empowerment and working conditions in four selected districts of Chivi, Gutu, Mutoko and Nyanga.

9 April 2015

While the ILO recognises that gender equality is a major component of social justice, and that discussions for equality would be incomplete without reference to economic justice, Pillar III of the JPGE resonates with the overall goal of the decent work agenda. It advocates for positive change in people’s lives through promotion and creation of employment at national, local and personal levels.

As part of implementation of this programme, a workshop was recently convened to:
  1. Impart knowledge on gender and women empowerment awareness;
  2. Equip participants to be agents of change for the socio-economic status of women in family and society;
  3. Equip participants to train women to succeed in the extraordinary and multiple roles that are often demanded of them;
  4. Impart knowledge and skills to the participants to be able to reach out to women with a goal of enhancing their capacities and developing their skills in empowerment;
  5. Raise awareness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and its basis and prepare the women on the possible escalation of violence that might emanate from perceived threats by the men after the women are empowered.
To facilitate movement and communication of the project’s “foot soldiers” – the Field Officers; motorbikes, computers and printers were officially handed over by the ILO Country Director, Ms. Hopolang Phororo to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Dr Perpetua Gumbo at the start of the workshop. Two weeks before the workshop, the Field Officers, who all hold learners licences, had undergone motorbike riding training for a week.