EU injects €209 million towards Zimbabwe gender efforts
By Delicious Mathuthu
The European Union (EU) has injected €209 million towards Zimbabwe’s gender equality and women empowerment efforts for the next 5 years.
The investment is meant to cr
eate a Gender Based Violence free society through promoting fair opportunities and women empowerment in Zimbabwe untill the year 2027.
The fund, which was launched in Harare on the 27th of February 2023, will also support women into entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the launch of the Initiative in Harare, the European Union Ambassador, His Excellency Jobst von Kirchmann, said gender equality is one of European Union’s key priorities which align with part of Zimbabwe Government’s policies.
“Gender equality is one of the core principles among the European Union founding values and is both a priority and a goal for Zimbabwe and the European Union,” he said.
Zimbabwe, represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Honourable Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni, praised the EU for supporting Government’s gender policy through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).
“We are delighted to see the EU as a partner in our efforts to strengthen the role of women in our society as set in the NDS-1,” she said.
Dubbed the Team Europe Initiative on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (TEI–GEWE), the initiative mobilised all EU member states, including Switzerland, to support with the multi-million euro fund in line with Zimbabwe Government’s objectives in the NDS-1.
In a joint statement, Zimbabwe and Team Europe said the fund will assist enhance women participation in decision making, community development and partaking in politics.
“Team Europe Initiative on gender equality and women empowerment supports Zimbabwean women towards a society which is free of Gender Based Violence, where women can play an active role in their communities, in politics and in decision making processes.
“The initiative will also mobilise financial resources to allow women to start their own businesses,” the joint statement reads.
The initiative has also opened a policy dialogue on gender equality and women empowerment between the Zimbabwean Government and the Team Europe Ambassadors.
Countries under the Team Europe Initiative include Sweden, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Germany and the European Union, joined by Switzerland.
The dialogue will allow the partners to meet every three months to make sure that the initiative remains fully aligned with the NDS-1 policy.
The launch comes after spending a year of preparation and discussions on common areas of interest and collaboration in the gender equality field and women empowerment between the two parties.
The €209 million financial contributions include €106 million from the EU, €61,3 million from Sweden, €17 million from Switzerland, €17 million from Germany, Ireland with €4,5 million, The Netherland with €2,5 million and France adding €1,5 million.
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