Global Accountability and Tracking of Evaluation Use - GATE System

Management Response

Management Response

Commissioning Unit:	Independent Evaluation Service (IES)
Evaluation Plan:	2026 - 2029 , Independent Evaluation Service (IES) (EO)
Evaluation Title:	Corporate Evaluation on UN Women's support to intergovernmental processes
Evaluation Type:	Corporate Evaluation-Thematic Evaluation
Unit Responsible for Providing Management Response: Independent Evaluation Service (IES)
Overall Management Response: UN-Women welcomes the findings of the corporate evaluation of its support to intergovernmental processes covering the period 2022–2025. The evaluation assessed the support provided by UN-Women to Member States in relation to key intergovernmental processes at global, regional and country levels, with the aim of contributing to strategic decision-making, learning and accountability. The evaluation reaffirms that primary responsibility for intergovernmental processes and the implementation of their outcomes lies with Member States, while UN-Women plays a supportive role in accordance with its universal normative mandate. UN-Women acknowledges the relevance and timeliness of the evaluation, particularly in the context of an increasingly complex multilateral environment, growing backlash against long standing commitments on gender equality and women’s rights, and persistent resource constraints. The evaluation finds that UN-Women’s support to intergovernmental processes during the period under review was highly valued by stakeholders, particularly Member States, and strategically important in advancing the global normative framework on gender equality and the empowerment of women, despite structural and resource limitations. It identifies six interrelated areas of support provided by UN-Women, including technical and strategic advice; convening and multi-stakeholder engagement; advocacy and political engagement with governments; implementation support; capacity-building and knowledge-sharing; and the amplification of women’s voices, including through support for the participation of women’s rights organizations in key intergovernmental processes. UN-Women agrees with the evaluation’s conclusions and recommendations and is committed to addressing them in a phased and pragmatic manner. Implementation will be aligned with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029, ongoing organizational reforms, and the availability of resources, with a focus on strengthening institutional coherence, effectiveness and impact in support of intergovernmental processes. UN-Women welcomes the findings of the corporate evaluation of its support to intergovernmental processes covering the period 2022–2025. The evaluation assessed the support provided by UN-Women to Member States in relation to key intergovernmental processes at global, regional and country levels, with the aim of contributing to strategic decision-making, learning and accountability. The evaluation reaffirms that primary responsibility for intergovernmental processes and the implementation of their outcomes lies with Member States, while UN-Women plays a supportive role in accordance with its universal normative mandate. UN-Women acknowledges the relevance and timeliness of the evaluation, particularly in the context of an increasingly complex multilateral environment, growing backlash against long standing commitments on gender equality and women’s rights, and persistent resource constraints. The evaluation finds that UN-Women’s support to intergovernmental processes during the period under review was highly valued by stakeholders, particularly Member States, and strategically important in advancing the global normative framework on gender equality and the empowerment of women, despite structural and resource limitations. It identifies six interrelated areas of support provided by UN-Women, including technical and strategic advice; convening and multi-stakeholder engagement; advocacy and political engagement with governments; implementation support; capacity-building and knowledge-sharing; and the amplification of women’s voices, including through support for the participation of women’s rights organizations in key intergovernmental processes. UN-Women agrees with the evaluation’s conclusions and recommendations and is committed to addressing them in a phased and pragmatic manner. Implementation will be aligned with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029, ongoing organizational reforms, and the availability of resources, with a focus on strengthening institutional coherence, effectiveness and impact in support of intergovernmental processes.
Management Response Status:	Approved

Recommendations

Recommendation : 1

Recommendation:	UN-Women should lead an inclusive process to develop a strategy for its support to intergovernmental processes that articulates a clear vision, defined roles and responsibilities, and include the intergovernmental support offer at country, regional, and global levels.
Management Response:	UN-Women accepts the recommendation to strengthen and systematize engagement with partners supporting intergovernmental processes. The Entity recognizes the importance of leveraging its coordination mandate to enhance strategic, consistent and sustainable engagement with Member States, UN system partners and civil society organizations across global, regional and country levels. During the period under review, UN-Women developed political engagement strategies which the Entity has deployed for effective engagement with partners on intergovernmental processes. Implementation will therefore build on existing political engagement strategies and will be subject to the availability of resources.

Description:
Management Response Category:	Accepted
Thematic Area:	Not applicable
Operating Principles:	Alignment with strategy
Organizational Priorities:	Normative Support
UNEG Criteria:	Effectiveness

Key Actions

	Responsible	Deadline	Status	Comments
Lead an inclusive, consultative process to develop an inclusive corporate strategy articulating UN-Women’s vision, institutional framework and intergovernmental support offer at global, regional and country levels.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from the Civil Society Division, the Coordination Division, and Regional Office Management with sherpas at the regional level, in coordination with PPID Directorate.	2028/12	Not Initiated
Define and document roles and responsibilities across headquarters divisions, regional and country offices to clarify contributions and strengthen coordination across levels.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from the Civil Society Division, the Coordination Division, and Regional Office Management with sherpas at the regional level, in coordination with PPID Directorate.	2028/12	Not Initiated
Develop practical guidance, including a CSW playbook, to support consistent engagement with key intergovernmental processes, where feasible. The playbook may include an external component to support preparations for, and follow-up to, agreed conclusions and outcomes.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from the Civil Society Division, the Coordination Division regional sherpas, in coordination with PPID Directorate.	2029/12	Not Initiated
Establish regular joint planning across global, regional, country and liaison offices to reduce duplication, strengthen coherence, and ensure that UN-Women’s contributions to intergovernmental processes are systematically captured and reported.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from Liaison Offices, Regional Office Management with sherpas at the regional level, in coordination with PPID Directorate.	2026/12	Initiated	Joint planning has started with regional Sherpas including in preparation for reporting on the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, under Outcome 1.

Recommendation : 2

Recommendation:	UN-Women should strengthen its overall engagement with partners by developing a systematic approach of its partnership ecosystem based on existing political engagement strategies.
Management Response:	UN-Women accepts the recommendation to strengthen and systematize engagement with partners supporting intergovernmental processes. The Entity recognizes the importance of leveraging its coordination mandate to enhance strategic, consistent and sustainable engagement with Member States, UN system partners and civil society organizations across global, regional and country levels. During the period under review, UN-Women developed political engagement strategies which the Entity has deployed for effective engagement with partners on intergovernmental processes. Implementation will therefore build on existing political engagement strategies and will be subject to the availability of resources.

Description:
Management Response Category:	Accepted
Thematic Area:	Global norms and standards (SPs before 2018)
Operating Principles:	Alignment with strategy
Organizational Priorities:	Normative Support
UNEG Criteria:	Effectiveness

Key Actions

	Responsible	Deadline	Status	Comments
Conduct a systematic mapping of partners engaged in intergovernmental support work at global and regional levels, capturing internal mechanisms, formalized partnerships (including Memorandum of Understanding), and informal collaborations. organized by intergovernmental processes.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from the Civil Society Division, regional sherpas, the Strategic Partnerships Division and Coordination Division, and the PPID Directorate	2027/12	Not Initiated
Develop standardized capacity strengthening packages for Member States’ personnel involved in intergovernmental processes at global, regional and national levels. These packages could be differentiated by country capacity level, for small states and delivered through country level channels and national gender machineries, at their request.	Intergovernmental Support Section, regional sherpas, the Strategic Partnerships Division and the PPID Directorate	2028/12	Not Initiated
Strengthen the use of existing coordination mechanisms with UN system partners through joint knowledge products, co-led briefings, and co-produced policy papers.	UN System Coordination Division with input from Intergovernmental Support Section, regional sherpas, Coordination Division, and the PPID Directorate and relevant thematic sections	2027/12	Initiated	This work is already underway through the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE)
Further institutionalize civil society engagement to promote inclusive participation, particularly at regional and country levels.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from the Civil Society Division, regional sherpas, and the PPID Directorate	2027/12	Not Initiated
Develop a partnership roadmap to align internal support functions and sustain engagement with partners over time.	Intergovernmental Support Section, with input from the Civil Society Division, regional sherpas, the Strategic Partnerships Division and Coordination Division, and the PPID Directorate	2028/12	Not Initiated