Management Response

: Brazil
: 2017 - 2021 , Brazil (CO)
: Final Evaluation of Human Rights of Indigenous and Quilombola Women: A Governance Matter
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: Brazil
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The present management response was prepared by the Brazil CO Programme Analyst and Programme Associate for Governance and Participation of Public Life area, as required according to the UN Women’s Evaluation Policy, discussed with Brazil CO Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Analyst, and approved by the UN Women Brazil CO Head of Office. UN Women Brazil CO fully accepts the five recommendations and will incorporate lessons learned in future projects design, where appropriate.
: Approved
Recommendation: Considering the identified relevance of the project's design in sensitizing state and municipal governments to the importance of the explicit inclusion of Indigenous and Quilombola women in public policies and also the relevance of the project in training these women for greater advocacy in public policies, it is recommended in the design of future projects to support this group of women, to consider that it is necessary to reserve adequate time for mobilization and articulation of partnerships and also that it is necessary to engage with other economic empowerment projects, considering that this is a recurring demand of the rights holders, in addition to interventions in the scope of governance and political empowerment. In this context and more specifically, it is recommended: a) To allocate appropriate time to the work of mobilizing and articulating partnerships to generate greater results for the project. b) To collaborate and engage with other economic empowerment projects, as this expands the possibilities of women´s participation and helps to change power relations. This is a claim of Indigenous and Quilombola women who want more support to improve their possibilities of income generation.
Management Response: From 5 recommendations, the evaluation considered the recommendation a 3rd priority that should be implemented in the next 2 years. The Office accepts the recommendation and is committed to incorporating the proposed key actions into the design of new projects and, more critically, into implementing the Strategic Note 2024-2027.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Review the portfolio of current and planned actions according to the strategic selection criteria established for the Strategic Note 2024-2027 to heighten focus and impact across portfolio areas and to conso Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated Current partnerships are being consolidated, and new partnerships are being prospected. In the meantime, resource mobilization actions are ongoing to subside cross-cutting programme interventions in the CO.
Incorporate explicit criteria in designing future funding opportunities to ensure adequate time is allocated for mobilization and partnership-building efforts. Include considerations of effort required, potential impact on the inclusion and advocacy of Indigenous and Quilombola women, alignment with gender-transformative initiatives, and coherence with the organization’s core competencies and mandate. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated New proposals for resource mobilization are being designed considering this recommendation.
Identify initiatives in which the Office can engage strategically, emphasizing its value-added contributions in areas such as mobilization, partnership-building, advocacy, training, and support for economic empowerment projects, consistent with the rights holders' demands. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2025/02 Overdue-Not Initiated The project provided input for UN Women’s work with G-20 initiatives under Brazil`s presidency in 2024, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and Embrapa (a government-owned research organization associated with Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture). The lessons learned contributed to UN Women's and its partners' expertise in an innovative approach within the country and globally, addressing the intersection of gender, race, and ethnicity. 
Identify high-impact research areas that support monitoring the implementation of relevant legislation and policies related to the inclusion and empowerment of Indigenous and Quilombola women (e.g., tracking economic empowerment outcomes, governance participation rates, implementation of gender-focused laws, and advocacy for quota fulfilment). These should address identified gaps and align with UN Women’s support priorities. Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated CO, as part of a UN Women regional strategy on gender, environment, and climate justice, has prospected research opportunities with the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) on the available and disaggregated data on climate change by gender.
Strengthen the connection between the Office’s grassroots initiatives and policy dialogue at state and municipal levels, ensuring that lessons learned from direct engagement with Indigenous and Quilombola women inform and influence public policies and governance frameworks. Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated CO has financially and technically supported the preparations of Indigenous Women's regional and national Conferences, with the objective of designing gender—and race-responsive public policies for Indigenous women. Moreover, the CO has supported women in preparing the 2nd March of Afro-descendent Women, planned for November 2025.
Recommendation: Considering the significant results achieved within the scope of this project to build the capacities of duty bearers and also of Indigenous and Quilombola women, the design of inclusive public policies and the strengthening of women's organizations, especially Quilombolas, this evaluation recommends that in future governance projects and mobilization of historically excluded groups, the connection of the work with duty bearers and civil society should take place from the outset of the implementation with a view to deepening the dialogue between the two groups in a more effective way through the promotion of frequent events of political dialogue. In addition, stakeholders should be more directly engaged in project governance. Loger-term projects should also be considered for the maturation of political dialogue. More specifically, it is recommended: a) To connect the two areas of the project (duty bearers and civil society) from the beginning of the project to deepen the possibilities of political dialogue whenever the political context allows (assuming that there is not a high degree of animosity between the groups). b) To use the methodology 1) Training, 2) Technical Advice, and 3) Knowledge Products, including more political dialogue events where the specific demands of the groups involved can be discussed in a participatory manner. c) To expand the participation of different stakeholders in the project's governance and seek a more consistent participation of partners within the Steering Committee. d) To design projects with a smaller scope and longer duration with a program nature, that is, that are more long-term to generate more solid results over time, especially if they involve political processes with their own time to mature. For this project, it is also recommended: e) To present the evaluation results to managers and women within a mobilization event of the two groups to close the project and help promote dialogue between the parties involved. f) To disseminate the project results in the media and monitor the results of the new state policies for women in the two states whenever possible.
Management Response: From 5 recommendations, the evaluation considered the recommendation a 2nd priority that should be implemented in the next 2 years. The Country Office (CO) is committed to incorporating the proposed key actions into designing new projects, partner selection, and engagement processes. This includes establishing connections between duty-bearers and right-holders from the outset, enhancing project governance through broader stakeholder participation, and promoting political dialogue through state policies for women`s implementation in the pilot states where the partnership is established and disseminating the results to the national government.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Strengthen the connection between UN Women and government entities across various branches and levels, including government bodies of pilot states and potential partnerships with women bodies at the subnational level, as well as the Ministry of Women, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and Ministry of Racial Equality. This will facilitate more profound engagement with duty-bearers and civil society in inclusive public policy design and implementation. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Assign internal focal points with clear responsibilities for managing high-level, long-term partnerships. This approach ensures consistency and sustained engagement with key stakeholders, including Steering Committee participants, civil society organizations, and governmental actors. Head of Programme, Partnership Analyst, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Incorporate sustainability strategies explicitly into future project designs, emphasizing strategic partner selection and engagement. This approach aligns with the recommendation for long-term projects that yield sustainable results and facilitate political dialogue maturation. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Train dedicated staff on managing partnerships effectively and institutionalize regular exchanges during staff meetings to review partnership statuses and share lessons learned. Train dedicated staff on managing partnerships effectively and institutionalize regular exchanges during staff meetings to review partnership statuses and share lessons learned. 2026/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Considering the challenges in the implementation of projects carried out in partnership with state and especially municipal governments and the challenges in managing multi-stakeholder project partnerships, it is recommended to consider in future projects the involvement of local partners in the implementation of the project in municipalities, the training of consultants hired for projects (on the mission of UN Women and the neutrality of the United Nations system in its mission to serve the States Member) and also the expansion of the visibility of UN Women projects in Brazil. More specifically, it is recommended: a) To strengthen partnerships with states and implement projects in municipalities only when there is a local partner with this specific role. b) To train hired consultants on the mission of UN Women, levelling knowledge and perspectives and hire a project manager who has a clearly higher hierarchical level and who may be able to do this coordination from Brasilia (be this person from the UN Women team already or hired for this purpose). c) To scale up the media efforts of future projects to increase support for the initiative and help guide the political agenda.
Management Response: From 5 recommendations, the evaluation considered the recommendation a 4th priority that should be implemented in the next 2 years. The Country Office (CO) agrees with the recommendation and commits to integrating the proposed key actions into future projects and operations to address challenges in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships and municipal-level implementations. The Country Office leadership and project teams will ensure compliance with this management response, leveraging monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and impact.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, National ownership
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Prioritize collaboration with state governments and ensure that municipal-level projects include local partners with clearly defined roles in project implementation. Establish formal agreements to enhance project efficiency and ensure local ownership and sustainability. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Develop and deliver mandatory training programs for all hired consultants and project staff on UN Women’s mission, neutrality, and its role in serving Member States. Appoint a dedicated project manager at a higher hierarchical level based in Brasília to provide consistent coordination and oversight of multi-stakeholder projects. Head of Programme, Project Managers, HR Analyst 2026/12 Not Initiated
Design and implement a comprehensive media strategy to amplify the visibility of UN Women projects, garner public and political support, and align initiatives with broader political agendas. This includes leveraging digital platforms, partnerships with media organizations, and regular project milestones and outcomes communication. Head of Programme, Project Managers, Communications Analyst 2026/12 Not Initiated
Align these actions with the 2024–2027 Strategic Note indicators and establish robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and address challenges. Review partnerships and implementation strategies regularly to ensure alignment with project goals and effectively address any emerging issues. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers, Partnership Analyst, Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Analyst 2026/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Considering the sustainability achievements of the project, especially regarding the continuity of mobilization of quilombola communities, in the design of future projects, it is recommended the involvement of communities that already have a minimum level of organization and mobilization to ensure adequate conditions of sustainability. In addition, it is recommended to include and expand the training component whenever possible, considering that it creates conditions for change in the long term. More specifically, it is recommended: a) To consider communities that already have a minimum level of mobilization prior to engaging with the existing social structure. b) To maintain a strong training component that is a unique contribution of UN Women's work in Brazil, especially regarding women's ability to express themselves in their needs and claims for rights.
Management Response: From 5 recommendations, the evaluation considered the recommendation a 4th priority that should be implemented in the next 2 years. The Country Office (CO) accepts the recommendation and will integrate the proposed key actions into the design and implementation of future projects to enhance sustainability, particularly for mobilizing quilombola communities.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Capacity development, Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Identify and prioritize communities with an existing minimum level of organization and mobilization as part of project design and implementation. Develop a structured assessment tool to evaluate communities' organizational capacity and readiness before engagement. Head of Programme, Partnership Analyst, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Reinforce training modules into future projects with dedicated time, focusing on empowering women to articulate their needs and advocate for their rights. These modules will address leadership development, advocacy skills, and rights awareness to create long-term transformative change. Head of Programme, Partnership Analyst, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Design projects with embedded sustainability mechanisms, ensuring that mobilization and training activities have a lasting impact. Include strategies such as capacity-building for local leaders, creation of community action plans, and alignment with subnational and national policies to reinforce continuity. Head of Programme, Partnership Analyst, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Establish robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track the effectiveness of mobilization and training components over time. Use these systems to assess progress toward sustainability goals, inform adaptive management strategies, and share lessons learned with stakeholders and partners. Head of Programme, Partnership Analyst, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: In view of the results obtained with this project, which had an innovative focus on gender, race and ethnicity, and the demand of stakeholders to continue the project, it is recommended that this project continue either in the same states mobilized or in other states, taking advantage of previous experience and mobilizing resources that can be used for the continuous inclusion of groups historically excluded from the political process. More specifically, it is recommended: a) To take advantage of the lessons learned and design a new project that can be replicated in other states based on this experience and/or design a new project that can continue this political dialogue and deepen it to generate the conditions for real dialogue between the government and indigenous and quilombola women.
Management Response: From 5 recommendations, the evaluation considered the recommendation a 1st priority that should be implemented in the next 2 years. The Country Office (CO) agrees with the recommendation and recognizes the innovative approach of integrating gender, race, and ethnicity in addressing the inclusion of historically excluded groups. The CO is committed to leveraging the lessons learned from this project to design new initiatives that can be replicated in other states or deepened in the existing locations to sustain and expand political dialogue. These actions will aim to create conditions for meaningful engagement between governments and Indigenous and Quilombola women.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Leadership and participation in governance systems (SP 2018-2021)
Operating Principles: Promoting inclusiveness/Leaving no one behind
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Design new initiatives based on the effective strategies and methodologies identified during the project, such as partnerships with local stakeholders, community mobilization, and inclusive governance mechanisms. These projects should focus on replicating success in other states or deepening engagement in the current states to sustain and expand political dialogue. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Prioritize efforts to mobilize resources and secure funding to support the continuation and expansion of projects focusing on gender, race, and ethnicity. Engage with potential donors and partners to ensure adequate financial and technical support for new initiatives. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Foster stronger partnerships with governments and civil society organizations to create conditions for meaningful and sustained political dialogue between duty bearers and Indigenous and Quilombola women. Incorporate mechanisms for regular engagement and feedback to align project goals with community needs. Representative, Head of Programme, Project Managers 2026/12 Not Initiated
Reinforce monitoring and evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness of future projects and ensure continuous learning and improvement. Use these systems to track the outcomes of political dialogues, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization, ensuring the sustainability of results achieved. Share lessons learned with regional and global counterparts to inform broader UN Women initiatives. Head of Programme, Project Managers, Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management Analyst 2026/12 Not Initiated