Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020, ESCAP has made significant progress towards the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls within the context of the System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-SWAP).

ESCAP was swift to contribute to mitigating the gendered challenges posed by the pandemic. ESCAP worked hand in hand with member States to empower women to cope with the economic fallout from COVID-19 and provided analyses of the gendered impacts of responses to the pandemic and recommendations for recovery policies. This report provides concrete examples of such actions.

Moving forward, ESCAP will continue to place women and girls at the centre of our efforts to craft the post-pandemic future. In accordance with our Gender Equality Policy (2019-2023), ESCAP will continue to play its part in supporting its member States as well as strengthening the skill set of its staff towards an increasing gender-responsive programming and implementation of ESCAP’s activities.