WOMEN, GENDER AND YOUTH DIRECTORATE (WGYD)

The Women, Gender, Development and Youth Directorate (WGDY) is responsible for leading, guiding, defending and coordinating the AU's efforts on gender equality, development and promoting women's and youth’s empowerment. The Directorate designs programmes and projects based on the policies and frameworks adopted by AU Member States. It also oversees the development and harmonization of gender and youth policies; defines strategies for gender and youth mainstreaming within the Commission, AU organs and Member States; and supports capacity building by providing training on gender and youth policies and instruments.

The Directorate advances gender equality, women's empowerment, champions and coordinates the development of youth initiatives at the continental and international levels, with a view to giving new impetus to the commitments agreed at the global and regional levels in the following areas: poverty and women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship; agriculture and food security; women's health, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS; education, science and technology; environment and climate change; peace and security; violence against women; governance and legal protection; finance and budget; women in decision-making positions; promotion of youth (women and men), 1 Million by 2021 Youth Initiative and internal AU youth quotas, and women in gender equality; empowerment of women.

The mission of the Directorate is to ensure the implementation of the AU Strategy on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) and the coordination of policy development and mainstreaming of the topic of youth across the work of the Commission and actively engage with youth, while supporting the work of the Youth Envoy.

DIRECTOR.

Ms. Ngwenya Nonkululeko Prudence, Eswatini.

DIVISIONS

Divisions

Coordination and Outreach Division.

This division is responsible for mainstreaming and coordinating the Commission’s work on gender as well as engaging with Member States. The division’s capacity is expanded as this has hindered its ability to carry out its mandate.

Women and Gender Policy and Development. The division is responsible for coordinating the development of policies and promoting gender equality, as well as attaining the AU’s targets on gender parity.

Youth Development and Engagement.

The Division focused on the coordination of policy development and mainstreaming of the topic of youth across the work of the Commission and actively engages with youth, supports the work of the Youth Envoy, coordinates the AU Youth Volunteers Program and other AU programs that provide youth opportunities at the Commission as well as working towards attaining AUC’s youth quotas.

AGENDA 2063 ASPIRATION

Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 calls for “An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.”

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