Robin Muchetu in Harare
THE Gender Links National Voice and Choice Summit kicks off this Monday morning in Harare running under the theme ‘Promoting Gender Responsible Governance and Economic Development’ where over 220 delegates will present on various best practices.
The three-day event aims to bring together local authorities, Government departments, and civil society organizations from across Zimbabwe to share and highlight best practices in areas that include Drivers of Change, Entrepreneurship, Youth Engagement, Gender Responsive Budgeting, Institutional Centres of Excellence, Local Economic Development, and Media.
Projects addressing critical issues such as Climate Change, Gender-Based Violence, and Sexual Reproductive Health and Right will also be presented during the summit.
Ms Priscilla Maphosa Regional Director highlighted the objective of the summit.
“The objectives of the summit are multifaceted and aim to gather substantial evidence through case studies that focus on gender-responsive budgeting, local economic development, media engagement, leadership, youth participation, and institutional practices. Additionally, the summit seeks to evaluate the gender progress scores for the Centres of Excellence for Gender in Local Government, assess how local authorities are integrating gender considerations into their budgets, and examine the growth of flagship enterprises and entrepreneurs within the Local Economic Development framework,” said Ms Maphosa.
She said the event will foster discussions and reflections on the ongoing gender mainstreaming initiatives in Zimbabwe, providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape. The summit will also feature various awards recognizing outstanding contributions in several areas. The Leadership Award will honour individuals who have effectively championed the SADC Gender Protocol and its associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at either the local or national level, demonstrating tangible results.
Gender Links noted that the summit is strategically aligned with the National Development Strategy 1, which acts as a comprehensive framework guiding the nation towards the realisation of Vision 2030.
“This vision aims to establish an empowered upper-middle-income society by the year 2030, emphasising the importance of sustainable economic growth and development. The summit serves as a platform for gaining essential insights into the “Call to Action – No Compromise to Service Delivery” initiative launched by the government of Zimbabwe in 2023. This initiative transcends clear guidelines; it embodies a collective commitment to ensuring that local authorities provide,” she said.
Since the inception of the Southern Africa Gender Protocol@Work summits in 2012, more than 800 case studies have been showcased, demonstrating a sustained commitment to advancing gender equity and responsive governance. The 2024 summit is set to introduce 198 new best practices, reflecting an increasing dedication to addressing gender disparities and fostering inclusive development. This growing body of work not only highlights the progress made but also underscores the ongoing challenges that local authorities must navigate in their pursuit of gender equality and community empowerment.
@NyembeziMu
