Women's economic empowerment is widely acknowledged as a key prerequisite for realizing gender equality, strengthening women's agency and contributing towards inclusive gorwth in the South Caucasus. However, all too often, adverse social norms, discriminatory laws and lack of legal protection, failure to recognize and redistribute unpaid work and care, and lack of access to various assets constrain women's abilities to find economic opportunities, including decent jobs on an equal footing with men. Moreover, educational segregation leads to gender pay gap, lower rates of women's economic engagement, and subsequent occupational segregation between men and women.

Despiste some progress made by all three countries in terms of reducing gender inequalities, a lot remains to be accomplished to foster full and equal participation of women in society and in the economy. 

In Armenia:

- Council of Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the Prime Minister's Office

- The Ministries of Territorial Administration and Development, Agriculture, and of Labour and Social Issues

- Local governments of 11 municipalities across the two regions: Gegharkunik (Chambarak, Geghamasar, Shoghakat, Vardenis) and Shirak (Akhuryan, Amasia, Ani, Arpi, Ashotsk, Marmashen, Sarapat)

In Azerbaijan:

- the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs

- Authorities of Baku-Khazar, Gusar and Sabirabad distrcits

In Georgia:

- Parliamentary Gender Equality Council

- The Inter-Agency Commission for Gender Equalitiy, Ending Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in the Prime Minister's Office

-The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development; Agricultural Projects Management Agency and Agricultural Cooperatives Development; Agency under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; Social Service Agency under the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs

-Local governments of municipalities across the three regions : Kakheti (Akhmeta, Lagodekhi, Telavi), Kvemo Kartli (Volnisi, Marneuli, Tetritskaro) ans Samtskhe-Javakheti (Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza) 

-Outcome 1 : Women, particularly poor and socially excluded, use skills, economic opportunities, and relevant information to be self-employed and/or to join formal labour sector in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

-Outcome 2: Armenia and Georgia implement adequate legislative and policiy frameworks to enable women's economic empowerment.

-Outcome 3: Government and public institutions are stengthenend to develop and deliver gender-reponsive programs, public services, strategies and plans for women's economic empowerment in Armenia and Georgia. 

Risultati principali attesi:  

- Approx. 2.4 million women's economic empowerment is fostered through conductive legislative and policy frameworks in Armenia and Georgia.

- In the South Caucasus, 1'660 women with strengthened capacities and skills are ready to be gainfully selkf-employed and/or to join formal labour sector.

- Approx. 10 advocacy initiatives and meetings are initated by the women beneficiaries to voice their socio-economic concerns iwth relevant decision-makers in Armenia and Georgia. 

- 4 government- and public institutions with adopted and institutionalized internal gender mainstreaming tools and policies, and with trainings on gender equality and women's empowerment in place for their employees in Armenia and Georgia.

-30% of the employees in the 4 targeted instutions of Armenia and Georgia with stregthened knowledge and skills to mainstream gender in programs, services and plans.

-20% increase in budget allocations by target municipalities for social infrastructures and services as a result of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) 

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

- Missing gender-related date were obtained by means of commissioning four studies.

- Exchanges between governmental, development, civil society and business partners took place in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

- Working modalities with all the involved stakeholders (e.g UNDP offices in Armenia and Azerbaijan) were clarified. Organization, steering and monitoring arrangments were established.

- Preliminary selection of possible partner civil society organizations, local NGOs and private companies took place in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. 

Fase 1 01.11.2017 - 31.07.2021   (Active)