Zimbabwe, EU, Switzerland & UN launch ‘Sustaining the Gains’ for gender equality programme

Building on the foundation of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative (2019-2023), the new $4,5 million programme addresses critical gaps in the national response to gender-based violence (GBV). It will focus on strengthening accountability mechanisms for duty bearers and enhancing data management to ensure that commitments to women’s rights translate into tangible results.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, highlighted the importance of sustained efforts to address gender-based violence and promote women’s rights. She noted that the programme aligns with national priorities such as the National Development Strategy 2 and global commitments like Sustainable Development Goal 5. It builds on progress made under the Spotlight Initiative (2019–2023), which strengthened gender equality frameworks, improved GBV services, supported survivors, empowered women economically, and introduced key interventions such as safe markets and forensic capacity for handling sexual violence cases.

She explained that the new programme will take a multi-sectoral approach, focusing on strengthening institutions, enhancing accountability (including Parliament’s role), improving gender data, and implementing the High-Level Political Compact on ending GBV.

She called for urgent and coordinated action to translate investments into tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls, expressed gratitude to development partners—particularly the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation—and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to driving the programme’s success and sustaining progress toward a gender-just Zimbabwe.

European Union, 2026

The Ambassador of the European Union to Zimbabwe, Ms Katrin Hagemann, noted: “Gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to EU-Zimbabwe cooperation. The Sustaining the Gains programme is the continuation of a critical journey built on the foundation laid by the Spotlight Initiative (2019–2023) whose impact is reflected in Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy II. But more importantly, it is a call to action—to sustain momentum, fill gaps, and deliver tangible change for the women and girls who depend on us.  We must therefore move swiftly from planning to action, accelerating implementation where needed and ensuring no delays in delivering on our commitments.”

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Zimbabwe, Mr. Stéphane Rey, emphasised the need to bridge policy and practice: “The launch of the Sustaining the Gains Initiative signals our commitment to closing the gap between policy and practice. Persistent inequalities that deny women and girls their rightful place in political, economic, and decision-making spaces are unacceptable.”

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, underscored the programme’s contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on gender equality, reduced inequalities and strong institutions. “Today’s launch marks a renewed commitment to ensuring that the gains made under the Spotlight Initiative are not only sustained but deepened, by strengthening accountability and resourcing efforts to end gender-based violence and harmful practices in Zimbabwe. This Programme reflects the collective resolve of the Government of Zimbabwe, the European Union, Switzerland and the United Nations to place women’s rights and gender equality at the heart of national development, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

About the new Programme

With a total budget of approximately USD 4.5 million, the programme is supported by EUR 2 million from the European Union, USD 2 million from Switzerland, and USD 0.2 million from the United Nations. It will be implemented jointly by UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development. The initiative will focus on four key areas, Strengthening gender-responsive governance and accountability across government institutions, Enhancing institutional capacity to coordinate and implement gender equality commitments, Supporting the rollout of the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System, Improving domestic financing for gender equality and GBV prevention.

For media inquiries, please contact:

• United Nations: Sirak Gebrehiwot, Communications Specialist, Email: sirak.gebrehiwot@one.un.org, Mobile: +263 772 198 036

• European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe: Alexandra Maseko, Press and Information Officer, Email:Alexandra.Maseko@eeas.europa.eu 

• Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe: Richard Nyamanhindi, Communication Officer, Email: richard.nyamanhindi@eda.admin.ch