UNIDO: GENDER MAINSTREAMING PAVES THE WAY FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE

This workshop aimed to enhance the capabilities of UNIDO country representatives and project management teams across Asia and the Pacific to advance results on gender equality and the empowerment of women. 

UNIDO's commitment to advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development is underscored by its focus on gender equality and women's empowerment as fundamental principles. Through partnerships with public and private sectors, UNIDO emphasizes the role of women as key contributors to poverty reduction, advocating for women entrepreneurs and investors and enhancing policymakers' understanding of the critical link between gender equalityand sustainable industrialization.

Additionally, UNIDO acknowledges the high expectations of key donors such as the Global Environment Facility(GEF) and the European Union (EU) regarding gender-focused initiatives. The workshop, co-organized by UNIDO, GEF, and UN Women, builds on a broader programme that was piloted at UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna. It has been customized to the needs of UNIDO representatives and project management teams in the field to equip participants with cutting-edge tools and knowledge to design and implement gender-transformative projects, aiming for significant gender outcomes.

UNIDO has led diverse initiatives to support women entrepreneurs in the industrial sector, offering tailored training, enhancing market access, and building strong women's business networks to leverage varied expertise and resources. Ms. Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Director of UNIDO Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Unit, stressed, "There is an urgent need to address gender disparities in the industry to unlock women's full potential as leaders and agents of innovation and economic change”. 

Notably, UNIDO's flagship project, the CAPFISH-Capture: Post-harvest Fisheries Development in Cambodia, was showcased to the workshop participants. With its expertise in economic development, this EU-funded project has empowered numerous women-led fisheries enterprises to enhance skills, ensure food safety compliance, and expand market reach both locally and internationally.

Ends – 

For more information, please contact:

1. Ms. Thuy Thu LE, Rational Gender Officer, UNIDO, Vienna, T.LE@unido.org
2. Mr. Samruol IM, National Communication and Visibility Expert, UNIDO-CAPFISH-Capture project, S.IM@unido.org