The meeting of the  SPECA Working Group on Gender and SDGs (WGG) contributes to  promoting gender-transformative economic policies and sub-regional cooperation  in the implementation of the 2030  Agenda for Sustainable Development through identifying strategies for advancing of women’s economic empowerment in the SPECA region.

During this 14th session of the Working Group, participants will share advances made and challenges encountered with respect to the implementation of SDG 5 on gender equality and will further discuss strategies to forge ahead on key issues to advance gender equality, including women’s full economic and political empowerment.

At the 13th session of the SPECA Governing Council in Almaty, Kazakhstan, held on 21 September 2018, participating countries in the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, (SPECA) reiterated their commitment to the Programme as a platform for promoting sub-regional cooperation in the SPECA region and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, the Governing Council approved the recommendations of the session of the SPECA Working Group on Gender and Economy held on 19 September 2018 in Almaty, including the recommendation to change the Thematic Working Group on Gender and Economy to “SPECA Working Group on Gender and SDGs. The Governing Council welcomed progress made in strengthening cooperation between SPECA and regional organizations and institutions in providing support to the SPECA participating countries in their achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through enhanced regional economic cooperation in the SPECA region.