Addis Ababa, 26 August 2022 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Service Centre for Africa, in partnership with the Government of Canada, held a Regional Training of Trainers on the Gender Equality Seal for the Private Sector in Africa.

The five-day training was delivered from 1 -5 August 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, to 42 regional experts (12 men and 30 women) who will support companies implementing the Gender Equality Seal for the Private Sector across the continent.

This Training of Trainers was organized under the framework of the UNDP regional project on Advancing Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls in Africa which, with support from the Government of Canada, is creating a pool of competent Gender Equality Seal advisors to support firms implementing the Gender Equality Seal for the Private Sector in Africa.

Through the Gender Equality Seal Certification Programme, UNDP supports the private sector in closing persistent gender gaps in the workplace. The programme recognizes private companies that meet specific standards to promote gender equality and to empower women. Designed as a means for the private sector to embrace gender equality and enhance women’s economic and social empowerment, the Gender Seal supports corporations to make their human resources management systems more equitable and gender sensitive.

“We cannot achieve gender equality without support from the private sector,” noted Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda. “Through this training, the private sector contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing gender gaps and promoting inclusive, sustainable growth.” Ozonnıa Ojıelo, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda.

The event provided a platform for attendees to exchange experiences and build and strengthen the network of trainers to facilitate experience sharing even beyond the training session.

Rose Rwabuhihi, Rwanda’s Chief Gender Monitoring Officer, officiated the opening session. “The different experiences and lessons learned from the training will contribute to promoting better inclusion of gender equality in the private sector in Africa,” said Rwabuhihi.

The 42 regional experts at the training session were drawn from four Regional Economic Communities (ECOWAS, IGAD, SADC and ECCAS), seven UNDP Country Offices and Gender Equality Seal partners from the government and private sectors in Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, The Gambia and Uganda, and representatives from the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This is the second training session, with the first training taking place in Kampala, Uganda in 2020. Since then, the number of companies enrolled in the Gender Equality Seal in Africa has significantly increased. Over 60 private companies from Rwanda, Uganda and the Gambia are engaged in the Seal process, of which 9 from Rwanda have completed the cycle and are certified at the gold level.

Media contact: Odette Kabaya at [email protected]