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Political, economic and cultural factors of development have become a powerful catalyst for the women’s movement on the African continent, which has intensified in the last decades. One of the African women’s gains was the right to participate in various socio-political organizations that significantly influence the internal policies of governments. Among the international organizations focusing on gender equality and human rights issues is UN Women, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in January 2021. UN Women promotes cooperation with national governments and civil society organizations to develop a legislative framework, social policy, targeted programs and services for the implementation of standards of gender equality and justice. The above involves the equal participation of women in social, political, economic and cultural activities. The focus is on the following priority areas: leadership and decision-making level; violence against women; peacemaking and security; women’s economic empowerment; adoption of gender equality in national development planning and budget policy development. The UN Women structure coordinates and supports the work of the entire UN system aimed at achieving gender equality, and all discussions and agreements related to the 2030 Agenda. The work carried out in African countries by the staff and volunteers of the UN Women structure is diverse and fruitful both in the involving African women in economic processes, and in the enhancing their participation in the socio-political life. However, this organization needs more support from national governments, since gender equality and the empowerment of women is a must for comprehensive, equitable and sustainable development.
The article raises the problem of desertification in Africa and the expansion of the largest African deserts. The essence of desertification is defined as the degradation of land areas suitable for agricultural activities, which is expressed in the deterioration of soil properties, salinization of ground water, reduction of biological productivity, loss of the ability of the ecosystem to recover. The author considers that the desertification is caused by the negative impact of anthropogenic activities, lack of water resources, deforestation, salinization of soils, degradation of pastures and land, and climate change. Examples of international contacts in combating desertification and of the activities of the local population in this direction are given. Among the harmful consequences of the expansion of the desert zone the author mentions negative changes in the way of life of the local population that has existed for centuries, the increase in the flow of forced migrants to regions with a milder climate, cities or outside their States. The problem of desertification came to the attention of the international community in the 1970s after the disastrous drought in the Sahel in the late 1960s and mid-1970s. The package of measures proposed to eliminate the consequences of droughts and fight the onset of sand primarily included humanitarian assistance. Measures to improve the local environmental management system, which required significant technical resources and material investments, were carried out partially. The results of numerous regional and international symposiums devoted to desertification issues are usually a statement of the existence of the problem itself and a resolution of a recommendatory nature. In addressing this issue, the governments of the African countries concerned rely on the assistance of the international community or individual states with highly qualified personnel and the necessary technical equipment. The main aspect of combating desertification is the development of international norms and rules that should reflect ways to restore soil fertility and contain scientific planning methods for the use of new agricultural land. Obstacles to the implementation of concrete measures to curb desertification include the economic weakness of the states concerned, the lack of clear environmental plans and reliance on national human resources.
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