On 11 – 12 July 2022, the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) Network convened its fourth hybrid strategic engagement meeting with the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and partners under the theme: Advancing Women’s Access to Economic Resources to Build Africa’s Resilience in Nutrition. The meeting provided a platform to review and consolidate a common position on the effectiveness of the AU, RECs, and member states in implementing the gender equality agenda on legal and policy instruments governing nutrition.
The key topics discussed during the meeting were guided by the network’s eight thematic clusters, governance; peace and security; human rights; health, education; agriculture; climate change; and economic empowerment. ACCORD’s General Manger of Programmes, Ms. Karishma Rajoo moderated the session on peace and security, which examined how peacebuilding processes can promote women’s access to economic resources. The session presentations reflected on the experiences of women and girls in South Sudan and the Dominican Republic of Congo. A key recommendation that came out of this session was the need to review the existing conflict management framework to secure and protect women’s access to resources during conflict. In addition, to build the capacities of women in agriculture in order to adopt Agro-related early warning response systems to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.
The deliberations culminated with the GIMAC Steering Committee meeting, which was held on 13 July 2022. Ms. Karishma Rajoo represented ACCORD in her capacity as vice chair of the board at the meeting. The members resolved that Madam Bineta Diop, and Ms. Adjo Délali Kloutseh of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), and Ms. Houraye Mamadou-Anne from the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) will be appointed as the designated GIMAC Network representatives in Dakar.
The partners endorsed their commitment to ensuring that women and young people play central and pivotal roles in conflict prevention; including combating violent extremism, peacebuilding; and in creating peaceful and prosperous societies.
