Strengthening Accountability for Gender Equality (SAGE) in Zimbabwe

Women and girls, survivors of GBV, self-help groups, community leaders, men and boys in local communities.

Duty bearers in government and institutions with a mandate on gender equality and women empowerment such as permanent secretaries, district heads and supervisors, public service commission officials, traditional leaders’ council, parliamentary committees, victim friendly courts, judicial service commission, National Gender Machinery personnel, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Private Sector and Employers Confederation etc.

1. Strengthened gender responsive governance and accountability within government institutions to ensure compliance with international, regional and national gender equality provisions

2. Increased participation of women and girls in diverse and economically viable livelihood activities and leadership roles

3. Strengthened knowledge, skills and implementation capacity of SDC and partners to use gender transformative approaches in project design and implementation.

Expected results:  

• Strengthened capacity of 240 duty bearers in government and institutions to develop and deliver evidence-based gender-responsive programmes (Outcome 1)

• Establishment of 1 Public-Private Partnership as model for financing gender equality, women’s rights and GBV response (Outcome 1)

• 60% of key duty-bearers express, that interventions effectively strengthened their capacities to develop and deliver genderresponsive programmes (Outcome 1)

• 500 vulnerable women and girls engaged in diverse livelihood activities (Outcome 2)

• 4’080 survivors of GBV access legal/medical services annually (Outcome 2)

• 20’000 people have improved awareness of GBV and response services (Outcome 2)

• 1,800 women and girls’ access to productive assets and financial resources is improved (Outcome 2)

Results from previous phases:  

The UN-EU Spotlight Initiative I (2019-2023) supported the enactment and development of 25 national laws and policies promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Rights including:

• The High-level Political Compact to end Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices (2021-2030); Zimbabwe National Strategy to Prevent and Address GBV (2023-2023); National Women in Leadership and Decision-Making Strategy (2023-2030)

• Yet, financial and technical capacities for implementation and accountability to deliver on this strong legal framework and Zimbabwe’s gender commitments remain weak

• The lack of avenues for redress within public and private institutions and structural barriers hinder the creation of gender-responsive democratic governance in these institutions.

• A coordinated WOGA approach under the leadership of the MoWA is essential for creating ownership to effectively address GE and women’s rights in relevant government institutions and entities.