Interagency Gender and Development Group (INGAD) Announces Co-Chair Rotation

Islamabad, 27 July 2026: The Interagency Gender and Development Group (INGAD) today announced the rotation of its Co-Chair during the INGAD Larger Group Meeting, reaffirming its shared commitment to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Pakistan.

UN Women, as the permanent Co-Chair and Secretariat of INGAD, expressed its sincere appreciation to the High Commission of Canada for its dedicated leadership and valuable contributions during its tenure as INGAD Co-Chair. Canada's partnership has strengthened strategic dialogue, interagency coordination, and joint advocacy among development partners to advance gender equality in Pakistan.

The European Union in Pakistan formally assumed the role of INGAD Co-Chair for the next one-year rotational term. Working alongside UN Women, the European Union will help steer the Group's efforts to strengthen partnerships, foster policy dialogue, and promote coordinated action to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Established in 1985, the Interagency Gender and Development Group (INGAD) is a network of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, including United Nations entities and international financial institutions, working together to promote gender equality in Pakistan through interagency coordination and collaboration. Through this platform, UN Women Pakistan facilitates strategic dialogue, joint advocacy, and coordination on gender equality and women's empowerment across the development and humanitarian sectors.

The Group meets regularly throughout the year and engages with development partners, government institutions, civil society organizations, international financial institutions, the private sector, and academia to strengthen partnerships and advance coordinated action on gender equality. The INGAD Core Group comprises UN Women, the European Union in Pakistan, the High Commission of Canada, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), providing strategic guidance to the Group's work.

The annual rotation of the Co-Chair reflects INGAD's commitment to shared leadership, collaboration, and collective action in support of Pakistan's national priorities on gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals.