The United Nations Development Programme Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA) successfully concluded their first joint visit to one of the SDG Partnership Project sites in Argentina. In the course of the three-day mission, the delegation visited the project sites and engaged with the various stakeholders, witnessing firsthand the positive impact of the project on the ground and reaffirming the effectiveness and relevance of the SDG Partnership programme’s approach of sharing Korea’s experiences and expertise.

The delegation engaged in an intensive mission schedule, starting with a meeting at the UNDP Argentina Country Office in Buenos Aires and a courtesy call to the ROK Ambassador to Argentina. The following day, the delegation visited Córdoba Province, where they were welcomed by Claudia Martínez, Córdoba’s Secretary of Women's Affairs. Together they visited the facilities in the Integral Women's Center which provides a wide range of essential services to women survivors of Gender-based violence (GBV). The delegation was later welcomed at the local legislature by Vice Governor Myrian Prunotto, and Laura Jure, Minister of Social Development and Employment Promotion. The visit in Cordoba concluded at the Integral Men's Center for Correction and Prevention. Next day back in Buenos Aires, the delegation also had a virtual call with the Salta Government and discussed the ongoing replication of the Cordoba model in other areas of Argentina.

In 2020, as part of USPC’s SDG Partnership on tackling GBV, UNDP Argentina proposed adapting the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tool of the Sunflower Centers of the Republic of Korea to the Integral Women's Center of Córdoba to enhance its comprehensive services for women experiencing GBV. The adapted M&E tool helps enhance comprehensive care for women experiencing GBV provided by the public system and strengthens the management capacities of the Integral Women's Center in Córdoba. The innovative element of this initiative includes developing a digital user satisfaction tool that amplifies women's voices to improve services.

The Integral Women’s Center in Córdoba is a leading example in Argentina and globally, with Córdoba becoming the first jurisdiction in Latin America to implement this initiative promoted by the Republic of Korea.  

A strategic partnership for replicability

Since its creation in 2016, the Integral Women's Center in Córdoba has been a benchmark in providing comprehensive services to women who have experienced GBV, combining medical care, legal advice, and forensic services in one space. Thanks to the financial and technical support from the Republic of Korea, facilitated by UNDP Seoul Policy Centre and UNDP Argentina, an M&E tool was developed and modeled for replication in other Argentine provinces and potentially in other countries.

"The experience in Córdoba is a testament to the positive impact that international cooperation can have on people's lives," remarked Anne Juepner, Director of UNDP Seoul Policy Centre.

Mobilizing resources and knowledge

UNDP has played a crucial role in mobilizing resources and knowledge to improve the services of the Córdoba Center. This collaboration has not only improved the quality of life for many women in Córdoba but also laid the foundation for the scalability and sustainability of relevant policies in other regions. "This collaboration shows how UNDP can mobilize resources and knowledge to support local communities in their efforts to achieve the SDGs," highlighted Claudio Tomasi, UNDP Resident Representative in Argentina.

Innovation in monitoring and evaluation strategies

An innovative aspect of this initiative is the development of a digital user satisfaction tool that listens to women who have used the Center's services. "We have been able to improve our services. We are advancing tools to help us eradicate GBV," commented Claudia Martínez, Secretary of Women's Affairs for Córdoba.

First monitoring visit by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA)

For the first time, officials from MOFA and UNDP Seoul Policy Centre visited Argentina to observe firsthand the use of funds and project implementation of the SDG Partnership. This visit underscores the relevance of the USPC’s SDG Partnership programme, by showcasing the success of Córdoba's experience and its potential for replication in other Argentine provinces and beyond.