Spring Forward for Women: EU and UN team up for new Mediterranean gender programme

The European Commission and UN Women today launched 'Spring Forward for Women', a new joint regional programme for the Southern Mediterranean region. The programme aims to support national and regional stakeholders to empower women economically and politically in the context of the progress that has followed the Arab Spring.

The new programme was signed by European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, and UN Women Assistant-Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director Policy and Programmes, John Hendra.

"Women in Tunisia and Libya were at the forefront of their revolutions. Arab women, like all women around the World, have a crucial role in shaping the evolution of their societies and hence the future of their countries. We need to ensure that women's voices remain at the heart of the transformation process, so that Southern Mediterranean countries continue to strengthen the inclusive nature of the transition and respond to the calls of Arab women for Dignity. I hope that Spring Forward will be a significant boost in this endeavour." said Commissioner Füle at the event.

The UN's John Hendra said the programme came at an important juncture, with transformations taking place in many countries and women’s voices calling for lasting change. "This programme is a critical step towards advancing women’s rights against the backdrop of the political, social and economic developments taking place in the region,” he said.

The Spring Forward programme will support initiatives by national and regional institutions and civil society organisations to ensure women's active engagement in decision-making, empower women economically and enhance regional knowledge and experience-sharing on women's political and economic rights.

The programme will respond to the support needed at regional and country levels. It will build on local initiatives, recognising that sustainable change must be locally-owned and led.

The work at regional level will focus on several priorities:

capacity building;
increasing the participation of women in electoral processes;
strengthening local and national governments to have effective services toward poverty alleviation and advocacy.

Targeting all Southern Mediterranean countries, the programme will complement actions focused on improving access to economic opportunities for marginalised women in a number of priority countries that are undergoing transition and reforms, such as Tunisia and Egypt.

Spring Forward is financed through a contribution of €7 million from the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument (ENPI) and of €1.2 million from the UN Women core budget.

The launch of Spring Forward follows the signature of a strategic partnership agreement between UN Women and the European Commission in April 2012. The Commission and UN Women are already working together regularly in areas of gender responsive budgeting, peace and security and political participation in Africa, Asia & Pacific and in Southern Caucasus.

Source: EU Neighborhoof Info Center

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