Recent trends in national mechanisms for gender equality in Africa

This study presents a situation analysis of the status of national mechanisms in the 53 member states in Africa over the last five years. It argues that contexts such as economic liberalization policies since the 1980s and the role of the state and political reform have shaped the development and current situation of the mechanisms. Within these contexts, national mechanisms have evolved in significant ways.
National mechanisms for gender equality include bodies and institutions within different branches of the State (legislative, executive and judicial branches) as well as independent, accountability and advisory bodies. They include, but are not be limited to, the national machinery for the advancement of women within Government, inter-ministerial bodies (e.g. task forces/working groups or similar arrangements), advisory and consultative bodies with multi-stakeholder participation, gender equality ombudspersons, parliamentary committees and gender equality observatories.