UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gender Unit

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gender Unit



Request for networking and exchange of information

I would like to introduce to you the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Gender Unit and explore ways to network and collabo- rate with other organisations. The SADC Gender Unit (GU) was estab- lished in June 1998 at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.

The objectives of the Gender Unit are the following:

1. Design and elaborate a policy and institutional framework for gen- der mainstreaming at national and regional levels within the SADC Region;

2. Formulate, design and develop plans and programmes for gender mainstreaming and gender and development at regional and national levels;

3. Undertake gender training and capacity building, and provide advi- sory and technical services to SADC institutions, Sector Co-ordi- nating Units (SCUs), as well as to member states;

4. Undertake co-ordinating and catalysing activities of gender main- streaming and gender and development programmes of SADC institu- tions, SCUs, member states, NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and the Private Sector;

5. Cultivate and promote a culture of Gender Equality in the SADC Re- gion, and Respect for the Human Rights of Women;

6. Promote Equality Between Men and Women in the Sharing of Power and Ensure the Achievement of not less than 30% Representation in De- cision-Making Structures by the Year 2005;

7. Facilitate the Achievement of Gender Equality, and Gender Equity, in Access to Economic Structures and Control of Resources in the SADC Region;

8. Highlight the Impact of War and Armed Conflict on the Social, Eco- nomic, Psychological and Emotional Condition of Women and Chil- dren;

9. Undertake the Monitoring and Evaluation of Progress made by SADC Member States in Achieving Gender Equality and Gender Equity within the Context of the SADC Plan of Action;

10.Promote, Encourage and Commission Research, Documentation and Dis semination on Gender Issues and Concerns by SADC Institutions, SCUs and Member States;

11.Develop effective strategies for the mobilisation of financial, technical and human resources.

Elizabeth Khaxas
Gender Programme Officer
SADC Gender Unit
mailto:ekhaxas@sadc.int



Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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