WELCOME TO THE UN GENDER EQUALITY ACCELERATION PLAN
The UN System-Wide Gender Equality Acceleration Plan (GEAP) was launched on 8 March 2024 by the UN Secretary-General as a flagship initiative to accelerate progress on gender equality across the UN system.
It sets out our commitment to accelerate ongoing efforts to achieve much needed internal UN transformation. When fully implemented, the GEAP will enable all UN entities, no matter their mandate, to support all 193 UN Member States and other stakeholders to advance the rights of women and girls.
This ambitious plan is rooted in Our Common Agenda and commits to placing women and girls at the centre of renewed, inclusive multilateralism.
At a time of unprecedented pushback against women’s rights across the world, the United Nations mustleadby example and deliver for and with women and girls.”
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General
Our pillars
The Gender Equality Acceleration Plan consists of five bold pillars each designed to work in concert together to achieve transformative results for gender equality within the United Nations System.
Governance
Good governance is at the heart of GEAP.
Leading the charge, the dynamic Gender Steering Group, chaired by the Secretary-General sets goals and tracks progress at the highest levels of the United Nations System.
The Deputy Secretary General leads the Advisory Group, which brings together Member States, United Nations Entity Principles and civil society.
The Task Team, led by a High-Level Advisor, focuses on problem-solving and oversees six working groups that implement GEAP initiatives.
Coordination is managed by the GEAP Secretariat, based in UN-Women, with support from the Task Team.
Spotlight
Turning Data into Action: Colombia’s Gender Equality Profile
Colombia’s UN Gender Inter-Agency Group is driving change with a new Country Gender Equality Profile aligned to GEAP. Building on national data and the report Mujeres y hombres: brechas de género en Colombia, it adds gender power and conflict analysis to strengthen planning and better deliver for impact for women and girls. This bold, collaborative effort accelerates progress toward gender equality across the UN system. Learn more about it here.
ITU160 Digital Inclusion Initiatives
TU160 WTISD marked ITU’s 160th anniversary, highlighting “Technology for Humanity,” the digital gender gap, and inclusion of women and girls. As part of the celebration, the ITU160 Gender Champions initiative recognized 10 young women selected from 1,179 applicants across 150+ countries. Its success led ITU Members to request a long-term Gender Champions program planned to be launched in the coming year. Learn more here.
Promising Practice: UNIDO
UNIDO is advancing the implementation of GEAP through its recently formed Gender Equality Steering and Implementation Committee (GESIC), providing strategic leadership across the entity. A Gender Equality Roadmap aims for institutional parity by 2028, showcasing how leadership and governance drive change. For more on UNIDO’s approach and lessons learned, check here .
Promising Practice: UNICEF
UNICEF presented its Gender Equality Action Plan, 2026–29 to its Executive Board, aligned with the new Strategic Plan, underscoring the interconnected goals of child rights and gender equality. Member States expressed resounding support for the Plan's focus on achieving positive change for and with adolescent girls, integrating priorities for gender equality in policies and at-scale programmes, and cementing organizational gains in leadership, expertise, resources, and data for gender equality. The document can be accessed here.
News
GEAP Guidance for Country Teams
To accelerate real impact for women and girls, GEAP’s Country-Level Working Group, co-chaired by DCO and UN Women, launched guidance for UN Resident Coordinators and Country Teams. Read here.
3 December, 2025
Transformative Leadership Options Paper[PDF]
UNDP and UNICEF spearhead GEAP’s Options Paper on Transformative Leadership Training, driving gender-responsive leadership and system-wide change. Explore the paper.
30 November, 2025
Release of the GEAP progress report[PDF]
The Secretary General’s Progress Report on the GEAP for 2025 details advancements made by UN Entities towards implementing the GEAP. It also showcases promising practices and ways forward for 2025.
8 March, 2025
Documents
The Gender Equality Acceleration Plan regularly releases documents pertinent to the progress of the plan as well as related materials and resources.
Explore these materials to learn more about the GEAP, its goals and progress.
