Report on South Africa’s Strategy for Women’s Empowerment and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1. Introduction: Advancing Gender Equality (SDG 5)

Following the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, outlined the nation’s strategy for advancing women’s empowerment. The minister’s remarks underscore that meaningful progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) is contingent upon providing women with equal access to opportunities in education, technology, and the economy.

2. Domestic Policy Framework for Inclusive Growth (SDG 8 & SDG 10)

South Africa is implementing tangible policies to translate its constitutional commitment to gender equality into substantive economic outcomes, directly addressing SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• Public Procurement Act: A key legislative measure mandates that 40 percent of all government contracts be allocated to women-owned businesses.
• Economic Inclusion: This policy is a significant step designed to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth by ensuring women entrepreneurs can participate fully in the national economy.

3. Key Pillars for Empowerment (SDG 4 & SDG 9)

The minister identified several critical areas that form the foundation of true empowerment for women, aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Quality Education (SDG 4): Equal access to education and vocational training is paramount for equipping women with the necessary skills for economic participation.
2. Technology and Innovation (SDG 9): Ensuring women have equal access to technology is crucial for their inclusion in the digital economy and for fostering innovation.
3. Economic Opportunities: Creating and guaranteeing equal access to economic opportunities is essential for achieving genuine empowerment and reducing systemic inequalities.

4. International Cooperation for the Goals (SDG 17)

Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the minister highlighted the importance of global partnerships, a core principle of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• China-South Africa Strategic Cooperation: South Africa expressed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with China under the 2020–2029 Strategic Cooperation Framework.
• Areas for Collaboration: The partnership will focus on key areas for advancing gender equality, including digital transformation, vocational training programs, and the promotion of women-led entrepreneurship.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is the central theme of the article. The entire discussion revolves around women’s empowerment, gender equality as a constitutional right, and policies aimed at advancing women’s roles in the economy. The interview with the Minister in the Presidency for Women and the reference to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action directly address this goal.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article emphasizes creating “economic opportunities” for women and promoting “women-led entrepreneurship.” The government’s policy of allocating 40% of contracts to women-owned businesses is a direct measure to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth by integrating women more fully into the economy.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The minister explicitly states that women’s empowerment must be accompanied by “equal access to education” and mentions “vocational training” as an area for cooperation. This highlights the importance of inclusive and equitable education for achieving gender equality.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article points to the need for women to have “equal access to… technology” and mentions “digital transformation” as a key area of cooperation between South Africa and China. This connects to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation that is inclusive for all.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  By focusing on specific policies to empower a particular group (women) and ensure they have equal access to economic resources and opportunities, the article directly addresses the goal of reducing inequality within a country.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the “China–South Africa Strategic Cooperation Framework (2020–2029)” as a mechanism for strengthening collaboration on gender equality, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. This is a clear example of a bilateral partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

   The policy of setting aside government contracts for women-owned businesses is a tangible action to ensure women’s equal participation in economic life.

2. Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources…

   The new Public Procurement Act, which mandates that 40% of government contracts go to women-owned businesses, is a specific legal reform designed to give women greater access to economic resources.

3. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…

   The focus on supporting “women-led entrepreneurship” and using public procurement to stimulate women-owned businesses directly aligns with this target.

4. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

   The mention of strengthening cooperation in “vocational training” directly relates to this target of equipping individuals with relevant skills for entrepreneurship and employment.

5. Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries.

   The minister’s emphasis on “equal access to… technology” and cooperation on “digital transformation” points to efforts to achieve this target.

6. Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation…

   The “China–South Africa Strategic Cooperation Framework” is a direct example of South-South cooperation aimed at advancing shared goals in technology and gender equality.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Explicit Indicator: The most direct indicator mentioned is the “40 percent of government contracts for women-owned businesses.” This is a quantifiable metric that can be used to track the implementation of the Public Procurement Act and progress towards Target 5.a and Target 8.3. This corresponds to official indicator 5.a.1 (Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure), though it is applied in a non-agricultural context of procurement.
• Implied Indicators: The article implies several other areas where progress could be measured:
  • Proportion of women with access to and use of technology/internet: Linked to the discussion on “equal access to technology” and “digital transformation” (relevant to Target 9.c).
  • Number of women participating in vocational training programs: Stemming from the mention of cooperation in “vocational training” (relevant to Target 4.4).
  • Proportion of businesses owned by women: The focus on “women-owned businesses” and “women-led entrepreneurship” implies this as a key measure of economic empowerment (relevant to Target 5.5).
  • Number and scope of international cooperation agreements on gender equality: The mention of the China-South Africa framework suggests that the existence and implementation of such partnerships are indicators of progress (relevant to Target 17.6).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.cgtn.com