By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Gender Links Zimbabwe (GLZ) is set to host the 2025 SADC Gender Protocol @Work Summit and Awards from November 26 to 28, marking a strategic shift toward empowering local communities to spearhead gender equality initiatives amid ongoing economic pressures.
The annual event—held in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works—will run under the theme “Community Power: Local Solutions for Gender Equality and Economic Resilience.”
Unlike previous editions that largely showcased institutional achievements, this year’s summit will highlight grassroots innovation and real stories of community-led change.
More than 60 local authorities, alongside government ministries, civil society organisations, and media practitioners, are expected to participate.
GLZ says the summit aims to amplify practical, community-based strategies that have improved gender equity and strengthened local economic development.
By centring community-driven case studies rather than broader policy debates, organisers hope to inspire local authorities to adopt flexible, innovative approaches tailored to their own contexts. Participants will present initiatives across key categories such as Gender Responsive Budgeting, Entrepreneurship, and Youth Empowerment—each addressing everyday challenges faced within communities.
A notable addition this year is the Community Innovation category, which will recognise individuals and organisations developing unique local solutions that advance gender equality. These may include women-led agricultural cooperatives, grassroots campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV), and small enterprises driving social change.
The Youth Empowerment category will spotlight junior councillors who have successfully mobilised young people in governance processes, ensuring youth perspectives shape local decision-making. Organisers hope this will help nurture a new generation of leaders committed to gender justice.
Meanwhile, the Media Excellence category has been broadened to encourage journalists to tell deeper, more impactful stories on local gender issues.
Entries that illuminate community successes and ongoing challenges in gender responsiveness will be recognised.
As preparations intensify, GLZ is calling on local authorities, civil society partners, and media professionals to submit entries showcasing grassroots solutions to gender inequality and economic resilience.
The organisation hopes to build a diverse collection of community-driven models that can be replicated across Zimbabwe.
The summit will continue to serve as Zimbabwe’s national qualifier for the SADC Regional Summit, but with a renewed focus on local solutions and strengthening connections among communities.
GLZ says this re-oriented approach reflects the practical realities facing Zimbabweans today and the innovative spirit emerging at the local level.
In pursuit of sustainability, the summit will also encourage dialogue and feedback to strengthen networks and support collaborative efforts beyond the event.
By placing communities at the centre of the gender-equality agenda, GLZ aims to shape a more equitable and resilient future for all Zimbabweans.
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