UNDP STATEMENT

(EXTRACT)

UNDP is pleased to sponsor the first ever-ministerial meeting of the Global Summit of Women.  Given the diverse array of portfolios covered by the ministers – ranging from trade to health to education - this meeting is important in promoting our work on the Millennium Development Goals. 

The MDGs constitute declarations made by over 189 governments in year 2000, which set the framework to guide global development, with its overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. The success of achieving the MDGs hinge on global partnership and expectations of shared responsibility at all levels.

UNDP therefore joins hands with you in undertaking these responsibilities.  The ministerial meeting will find Goal 3 in particular, which addresses gender equality and the empowerment of women significant in meeting your own objectives for women’s economic empowerment. We believe that to achieve the MDGs, women need to be key stakeholders and promoters of globalization. 

 The challenge of meeting the MDGs is daunting, but moving significantly towards them is essential towards realization of the development aspirations of the continent. Specifically, the low participation rates of women in mainstream economic activities and in social and political decision-making processes; their marginalization in the globalization process, the ever- widening digital divide; proliferation of conflicts and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, are challenges which call for partnerships at all levels.

Our most significant challenge is in meeting the MDGs in Africa.  With 50% of its population estimated to be living below the internationally recognized poverty line of US$1 a day, Africa has the highest proportion of an entire population living in poverty among the various regions of the world.  The preponderance of women in poverty is a phenomenon that remains despite marginal gains.

 The continent's current average real GDP growth of about 3% is less than half of the required rates of 7-8% for reaching the MDG target relating to poverty reduction, and bridging the gap will require enormous policy challenges.

The MDG Country Reports UNDP assists governments and civil society to prepare offer a strategic opportunity to advocate for the urgency of overcoming poverty and close gender gaps, which entrench poverty disproportionately among women. We also need to galvanize public and private support for implementation. As policy makers and advocates for gender equity your role will be critical in advocating for the use of a gender lens in the preparation of the country Reports. These reports can provide the space for measuring qualitative progress in reducing gender disparity. 

UNDP, through its network, global and national efforts will work with you to reach these goals. Through our programmes such as capacity building of women entrepreneurs across the continent to take advantage of liberalized trade regimes; to trade promotion and policy support initiatives as well as efforts to promote information technology for economic growth and women’s employment, UNDP will continue to engage you in policy dialogue and solicit your guidance and support in implementation. We hope that through your own commitment and determination we can work together to make a real  measurable difference in the lives of women.