High-level Generation Equality Africa Regional Meeting concludes with strong commitments on financing for gender equality

IMF News, November 21, 2023

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High-level Generation Equality Africa Regional Meeting concludes with strong commitments on financing for gender equality

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Bibliographic details

• Published: November 21, 2023

Meeting overview

• Held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
• Convened from November 15 and followed by a two-day-workshop during November 16-17.
• Convened by the Government of Tanzania with support from UN Women and IMF Regional Technical Assistance Center for East Africa (AFRITAC East).
• Brought together Ministries of Finance and Ministries of Gender and their technical teams, representing 21 African countries.
• Tanzania has committed to the Generation Equality Initiative and made significant progress under the Action Coalition on Economic Rights.
• Meeting built upon the momentum of the Generation Equality’s Midpoint Summit in New York held in September 2023.
• Press Release No. 23/408.

Key findings on gender disparities (from the 2023 UN Women UN DESA Gender Snapshot report)

• Women dominate the informal sector.
• Women spend three times more on unpaid domestic tasks.
• Women earn less than half of men for comparable work.
• Women face maternal health risks.
• Women experience high rates of gender-based violence.
• Global challenges, such as COVID-19 and climate change, exacerbate these inequalities.

Leadership statements and analysis

• Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, speaking on behalf of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, highlighted the urgency of addressing the macroeconomic consequences of gender gaps through gender responsive fiscal policies to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.
  • Quote: “This high-level Generation Equality meeting reflects the commitment of African governments to work together towards achieving the regional and global commitments on gender equality.”
• Dr. Maxime Houinato, UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa and Regional Director for West Africa:
  • Quote: “Gender equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a development issue,” highlighting that providing women with equal opportunities boosts the productivity of countries, and the region.
• Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF:
  • Stated that closing gender gaps in labor market participation can significantly increase GDP in Sub-Saharan African countries.
  • Urged applying a gender lens to the full range of economic and financial policies – from tax administration to budget processes – so that countries can better understand the gender impacts of their policies.
  • Quote: “Addressing macro-critical disparities requires applying a gender lens to the full range of economic and financial policies – from tax administration to budget processes, so that countries can better understand the gender impacts of their policies.”

Recommendations, commitments, and follow-up actions

• Participants underscored the imperative to enhance the execution of action plans toward gender equality by integrating the plan throughout their budgetary cycle.
• Through a Communique, participating governments summarized recommendations on:
  • Enhancing women's access to resources and fair employment conditions.
  • Investing in feminist technology.
  • Bolstering women's involvement in peace and security efforts.
  • Prioritizing funding for women's health.
  • Addressing gender-based violence.
• The meeting concluded with a commitment to sustained action, ensuring:
  • Greater availability to gender data.
  • Accountability.
  • Transparent reporting to achieve the goals set by the Generation Equality Forum.
• Outcome: a roadmap to guide future efforts to transform the economic and social status of women and girls in Africa.

Media and contact information

• MEDIA RELATIONS — PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez
  • Phone: +1 202 623-7100
  • Email: MEDIA@IMF.org
  • @IMFSpokesperson
• For more information:
  • Camila Perez, Senior Communications Officer, IMF — cperez@imf.org
  • Hanna Mtango, Communications Analyst, UN Women Tanzania — Hanna.mtango@unwomen.org
• Email notification sign-up available for IMF website updates.

High-level Generation Equality Africa Regional Meeting concludes with strong commitments on financing for gender equality — November 21, 2023 — IMF Communications Department

References

• United Republic of Tanzania and the IMF
• Press Releases
• PRESS CENTER
• https://www.imf.org/en/home