UN Women Executive Board to Visit Zimbabwe from May 4–10 to Assess Gender Equality Initiatives

Zimbabwe is set to host a high-level delegation from the UN Women Executive Board from May 4 to 10, 2025, as part of a strategic mission aimed at evaluating the organisation’s impact in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment at the national level.

The executive board, which serves as the governing body of UN Women, plays a pivotal role in providing intergovernmental support and overseeing the agency’s global operations. The upcoming visit is expected to strengthen collaboration and ensure that UN Women’s programming aligns with Zimbabwe’s national development goals and the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The UN-Women Executive Board will undertake a field visit to Zimbabwe from May 4 to 10, 2025, as part of its oversight and engagement efforts to assess and understand the impact of UN-Women’s operations in advancing national development priorities and addressing women’s challenges in the region,” the agency said in an official statement.

During the week-long engagement, the board will meet with government leaders, civil society organisations, local authorities, private sector partners, beneficiaries, and members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). These meetings will offer stakeholders the chance to present real-world outcomes, discuss challenges, and showcase success stories in areas such as women’s rights advocacy, economic empowerment, leadership, and gender-responsive governance.

Key highlights of the visit will include:

• Evaluating national ownership of gender programming.
• Exploring strategic partnerships across sectors.
• Identifying best practices that could be scaled up or adapted in other countries across the region and beyond.

Special focus will also be placed on UN Women’s role within the Resident Coordinator system and its participation in joint UN programming initiatives, which have been crucial in implementing gender-focused development strategies as part of the broader UN development system reforms.

“Particular emphasis will be placed on exploring UN-Women’s engagement within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) through joint programming initiatives and the Resident Coordinator system, reflecting on progress made under the United Nations development system reforms,” the agency noted.

Throughout the mission, interactive sessions will allow the delegation to delve deeper into the mechanics of effective programming, including policy advocacy, dialogue with local communities, and strategies for harmonising gender interventions across development efforts. These discussions will offer valuable insights into how gender-focused interventions are contributing to poverty reduction, inclusive growth, and overall national progress.

This visit comes at a time when Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to address structural gender inequalities, and the UN Women Executive Board’s presence is expected to provide a timely boost to the ongoing push for gender-responsive policies and sustainable development.

By spotlighting both achievements and gaps, the mission will offer recommendations that could enhance future programming and resource mobilisation, while reinforcing Zimbabwe’s role as a critical partner in achieving global gender equality.

The field visit underscores UN Women’s commitment to inclusive partnerships and accountability, ensuring that its work on the ground continues to drive meaningful and lasting change for women and girls in Zimbabwe and the wider region.