The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 has been created during turbulent times. Multiple crises and risks are threatening the world and we are witnessing an alarming backlash against women’s rights and gender equality. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, women have been nearly twice as likely to lose their jobs compared to men.1 Yet less than 20 percent of policy measures implemented by countries across the world have addressed women’s economic insecurity. Gender inequality also takes a toll on men and other affected groups. For men, rigid gender norms can fuel risky behaviours resulting in violence, poor health, and lower life expectancy.

At a time when progress towards achieving gender equality is often stalling or even reversing, this ambitious new Gender Equality Strategy will guide UNDP in its efforts to assist countries to move beyond piecemeal efforts towards portfolio approaches that shift power structures and the economic, social, and political systems that perpetuate discrimination.

The strategy is grounded in UNDP’s commitment to eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and exclusion, and supporting the empowerment of all women. It describes how UNDP, together with our partners, will pursue gender equality -- helping to make a difference to millions of people across the globe through our six Signature Solutions and three ‘enablers’: innovation, digital transformation, and financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That includes ending gender-based violence, tackling the gender dimension of poverty, effectsexpanding access to clean, affordable energy, public institutions reform, and helping to unlock additional public and private investment towards gender equality. Crucially, the strategy also asks UNDP to continue advancing gender equality within the organization. Leaders at every level of our organization are encouraged to innovate and seek incremental and breakthrough improvements to unlock the structural changes needed.

Every element of the new strategy draws on knowledge from UNDP’s longstanding engagement to advance gender equality in every corner of the globe. I am deeply grateful to the more than 1,000 colleagues and stakeholders whose contributions helped to produce a strategy that genuinely reflects the diversity and needs of the countries and territories where we operate.

I invite you to read the strategy and learn more. With the support and collaboration of our partners from the UN family -- including our close partnership with UN Women -- and beyond, UNDP will continue to take action with countries and communities to expand people’s choices and realize a just and more equal world.