What does the Division for Gender Equality do ?

 
The Division has the following responsibilities:

• coordinates the preparation of up-dates, and monitors UNESCO’s "Priority Gender Equality Action Plan for 2008-2013";
• provides policy implementation guidance for gender-specific programming and gender mainstreaming within UNESCO;
  
• forges, within UNESCO, its Member States and at regional and global levels, political commitment to gender equality and monitors the implementation of Priority Gender Equality in UNESCO’s programmes;
• supports capacity-building in UNESCO and Member States, particularly by developing holistic and multi-disciplinary approaches that would contribute to the achievement of international agreed development goals, and specifically gender equality (MDG 3);
• coordinates cutting edge policy research on gender equality issues in selected areas pertaining to UNESCO’s fields of competence in order to provide informed policy advice to Member-States and improve the evidence base of public policy;
• develops and establishes partnerships with other UN entities, international and regional IGOs, major international NGOs, private foundations and private sector partners that support women’s empowerment and gender equality initiatives;
• conducts orientation and training programmes to increase the competence and skills of UNESCO staff in HQ and field offices to plan, implement and monitor gender-responsive and gender-transformative initiatives;
• promotes gender balance within UNESCO’s Secretariat.