Dear Friends,

Every year on the 8^th of March, we join the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD). This day was originally created to promote the rights of women and girls and eliminate any forms of discrimination against them. While we acknowledge the progress made since the original commemoration in 1911, a lot still needs to be accomplished, if we are to create a sustainable future for women and girls. This year’s theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”, reminds us of the inter-connectedness of these 3 fundamental principles. Notably, rights are the foundation upon which equality is built while equality is essential for empowerment to happen i.e. availing the socio-economic services (such as education, healthcare, leadership and economic opportunities), the productive resources and the opportunities for men, women, boys and girls to thrive.  Additionally, the theme calls for us all to rally behind women, particularly young women and adolescent girls, break the chains of discrimination and create a future where everybody has equal rights, power and opportunities to thrive.

Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, we appreciate the efforts by government and partners in promoting gender equality. At the same time, we recognize the urgency to invest in adolescent girls and young women through creating platforms where they can access opportunities, innovate, lead and are at the forefront of local, national and global issues of concern. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the wider United Nations (UN) Family, the government of Uganda, and multisector partners, must continue to harness opportunities for the women and girls of Uganda to participate in leadership and foster inclusive and sustainable growth. The 2024 Population and Housing Census illustrated that youth, and women are both integral to the future and at danger of being left furthest behind. Specifically, 72.3% of the population are 30 years and younger; with 16.1% of youth being unemployed compared to 11.7% of the entire population; and worse 20% for young women. 

At UNDP, we are committed to initiatives that support vulnerable women and men, girls and boys to participate and benefit from development processes in their communities. This is demonstrated by some of the initiatives we promote including;

Our collaboration with the Makerere University Innovation Pod, (UniPod) and Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), where we are equipping students with cutting-edge skills in motor vehicle technologies. This initiative also incorporates lessons on navigating workplace dynamics that may present challenges for women and girls in engineering and looks towards bridging the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Additionally, under the joint UN and European Union Spotlight Initiative to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, we are strengthening national and sub-national government institutions; promoting gender-equitable social norms, attitudes and behaviors; and enabling access to justice for survivors of violence, including provision of vocational skilling for out of school adolescent girls and women to have alternative livelihoods and more.

As we mark the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025 and over 100 years commemorating IWD, let us continue our commitment for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Uganda through accelerating the rights, equality and empowerment for all women and girls. This requires us to accelerate action for gender equality in all spheres such as: education, health, peace, sports, creatives, media, decision making, political participation, economic empowerment, women in agriculture, food security and, not least, the elimination of violence against women and girls. Addressing these issues, along with emerging priorities around climate action and the power of digital technologies, is urgent, if we are to achieve sustainable development.

For all those women and girls who have been told they can’t dream, they can’t lead, they can’t innovate, they can’t hope, we say to you, it’s possible.

By Nwanne Vwedde Obahor, UNDP Resident Representative