Africa Human Development Report 2016 Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa Copyright © 2016 by the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa 1 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA Designed and printed: Phoenix Design Aid, Denmark. Cover: These patterns are a conceptual reference to societal growth and progressive Printed on FSC™ certified paper and with vegetable-based inks. policymaking. Their repetition reflects a structural foundation and the ascending colour The printed matter is recyclable. blocks stand for growth and development within existing structures. The African fabric patterns represent a common traditional dress for men and women and a major source of trading activity for women in the Continent. Africa Human Development Report 2016 Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa Foreword This 2016 Africa Human Development private sector. Similarly, addressing gender Report on gender equality follows the 2012 equality in such a holistic way dovetails with, Africa Human Development Report, which and reinforces, the ambitious agenda of the looked at the importance of assuring food Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), security for all Africans. Both reports share a which African governments and the interna- common objective of addressing what might tional community as a whole have set for the be considered two unfinished agenda items on coming 15 years. A holistic approach to gender Africa’s development trajectory. Both have equality will also bolster the achievement of long been recognized as important priorities Agenda 2063 of the African Union. This 2016 for the governments and citizens of African Human Development Report therefore pro- countries. vides a framework for operationalizing SDG This year’s report on gender equality 5 on gender equality, in particular, and all the reviews the ongoing efforts of African SDGs, in general. countries to accelerate the pace of assuring Finally, it is important to emphasize that this women’s empowerment through all spheres report has been written to encourage policy of society – in the home and community, debate and discussions on what further steps in health and educational attainment, in the are needed to ensure that gender equality is workplace, and in political participation and more fully integrated into national agendas leadership. While significant progress has and ongoing policy dialogues across Africa. been made across numerous fronts in most The report has been prepared with diverse countries, gender equality for African women audiences in mind – African policymakers and girls is still far from satisfactory. To and practitioners, other development organi- address the gender gap, this report adopts a zations, the private sector, civil society, aca- political economy approach to gender equal- demia, and Africa’s citizens, young and old. ity and women’s empowerment in Africa. It is hoped that the report will engage and A key message of this report is that giving stimulate active discussion and consensus on more concerted attention to gender equality the different pathways each African country will be an important and long overdue sti- can take in addressing this critical develop- mulus to faster and more inclusive human ment challenge and fundamental human right development and economic growth for the – gender equality. entire continent. A policy and programming focus on harnessing the potential of women is an important economic and social driver for more inclusive and sustainable development. Policies and programmes that unintention- ally leave out or disenfranchise women will Helen Clark never be successful over the long term. Nor Administrator can inclusive growth be achieved if women’s United Nations Development Programme empowerment is compartmentalized, or seen as a separate activity from what are tradi- tionally perceived as the core functions of government. Simply stated, accelerating gender equality is a core function of government, involving multi-sectoral efforts that include national and local government entities, non-governmental actors, civil society organizations and the | v Preface On behalf of the UNDP Regional Bureau human development progress using UNDP’s for Africa, I am pleased to present this second different human development indicators, with Africa Human Development Report on the particular attention to the two indicators that topic of Accelerating Gender Equality in measure gender development and gender in- Africa. equality. The report further analyses gender Gender equality is not a new development trends and comparisons in terms of health, priority for African countries. Indeed, its im- education, economic opportunities and bar- portance has long been recognized, with the riers, as well as political representation and African Union and its predecessor, the Orga- leadership. Attention is also given to the un- nization of African Union, taking a leading derlying and root causes of persistent gender role in espousing the rights of women and inequality, including negative social norms in girls dating back several decades. The African slowing the pace toward gender equality and Union has designated 2016 as the year of the policy dilemmas that African governments Human Rights with a focus on Women’s face in reconciling legal norms and precedents Rights, while 2015 was the year of Women’s with detrimental social customs and traditions. Empowerment and Development. However, The report further reviews the policy and progress in achieving gender equality has institutional approaches that African govern- been slower than hoped and inconsistent for ments have used to address gender inequality many African countries. and accelerate the pace of women’s empower- This report on gender equality is thus aimed ment and access to equal economic, social and at refocusing attention on what continues to political opportunities. Throughout the report, be a critical development challenge, at a time comparisons are made between African coun- when Africa has been undergoing a period tries and between the Africa region and other of significant and unprecedented economic, developing regions, notably Asia and Latin social and political change. The fast pace of America and the Caribbean. economic growth in some African countries The final chapter of the report offers an only a few years ago has been dampened by agenda for action through a policy and stra- the recent global downturn in demand for tegic framework that places gender equality many primary commodities. Political and at the centre of the development agenda. Four civil unrest driven by inequality, localized broad ‘pathways’ are suggested that offer a disputes and unmet expectations continue policy and programme framework to acceler- to affect many countries in Africa. Also, ate gender equality and fully integrate gender the Ebola epidemic of 2014 and drought in into the broader development agenda. East, West and Southern Africa in 2015/16 demonstrate how vulnerable and fragile even These four pathways entail: rapidly improving African societies can be to unexpected shocks and downturns. Under • supporting the adoption of legal reforms, such conditions, African women often bear policies and programmes to advance a differentially greater burden as mothers, women’s empowerment; caregivers and family providers. In the analysis that follows, the report • supporting national capacities to promote highlights where progress has been made and increase the participation and leader- in addressing gender equality and what and ship of women in decision-making in the where the remaining shortfalls and challenges home, economy and society; are. It first provides a synopsis of Africa’s vi | AFRICA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2016 • supporting capacity to implement multi- development is fully inclusive for all their sectoral approaches to mitigate the impacts citizens and sustainable in the long term. of discriminatory health and education We hope that this report stimulates discus- practices; and sion and debate on what remains a critical challenge and unexploited opportunity for • supporting women to gain ownership and Africa’s future. management of economic and environ- mental assets. The rationale for these pathways is that only by ensuring that women receive the same economic, social and political opportunities by shifting from legal to substantive gender Abdoulaye Mar Dieye equality can governments assure that their Assistant Administrator and Director of the progress in economic growth and human Regional Bureau for Africa | vii Acknowledgements The Africa Human Development Report Policy and Programme Support, the Regional (2016 AfHDR) was prepared by UNDP Bureau for Asia and the Regional Service Africa experts. It benefitted from the overall Centre for Africa. A UNDP Africa field guidance of Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, the UNDP sounding board composed of selected resident Africa Regional Director, with a special con- coordinators and economic advisers peer- tribution to and direction on the theoretical reviewed the document and provided inputs framework from Selim Jahan, the Director of to the process. UNDP’s Human Development Report Office. The work on the AfHDR project team The strategic support from Ruby Sandhu- greatly benefitted from the valuable contribu- Rojon, Deputy Regional Director, is duly tions of United Nations sister agencies acknowledged. through a UN Readers' Group including Moa The report preparation process was coor- Westman (United Nations Environment