This resource guide was developed to: 1. Provide practical guidance to UN Theme Groups (UNTGs) working on gender equality, focusing on how to more effectively collaborate around women's empowerment and gender equality issues at the country level; 2. Serve as a tool to strengthen the role of UN theme groups in mainstreaming gender equality concerns and advocacy for women's and girls' rights into Common Country Assessment/UN Development Assistance Framework (CCA/UNDAF) exercises, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and other coordinated support mechanisms at the national level.
The guide contains information based on feedback from theme groups in more than 30 countries. It synthesizes the opportunities and challenges that exist to promote gender equality and women's human rights in the context of UN reform and greater coordination among wide-ranging development actors. The practical guidance and support comes in the form of tips, examples, and good practices summarized from the work of experienced theme groups. Source material from a cross-section of UN system agencies has been added to the base of experience.
This is a joint publication of the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
