TCU Achieves Highest Score on UNDP Gender Equality Seal

The Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) has achieved the highest score in the world on the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented the results on September 18, following the conclusion of an external assessment of the Court's track record in advancing gender equality.

The TCU met 39 of the 40 requirements assessed, reaching 97.39% compliance and earning Gold-level certification. UNDP global representative Ana Landa noted that, among the 45 institutions recognized by the program to date, the Court has the highest score recorded worldwide. In UNDP's view, the result reflects a process of institutionalizing gender equality that goes beyond isolated initiatives and now permeates many aspects of the Court's operations. During the presentation of the assessment, international consultant Graça Sanches highlighted progress in several areas: leadership and planning, institutional capacity, the work environment, partnerships, and the gradual integration of a gender perspective into government auditing.

International recognition

Landa also noted that this performance places the TCU in a leading position among participating institutions worldwide.

She stressed, however, the result is not solely a product of the Court's participation in the Seal. Rather, the program served as a tool to accelerate and deepen an agenda the TCU had already been building. The assessment recognized the institutional commitment, leadership, and technical capacity demonstrated throughout the process.

"This is not because of the Seal. The Seal was a tool that allowed them to accelerate," she said. She pointed out that the TCU already had initiatives and structures in place and that these were brought together and strengthened during its participation in the program.

The recognition may also resonate internationally. Landa said the TCU's experience is expected to be shared with the global community of supreme audit institutions. Counterparts in South Africa, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe are also engaging with the program, partly inspired by Brazil's example.

An agenda that cuts across the Court

The assessment showed that gender equality has been mainstreamed across the institution. Highlights included integrating a gender perspective into planning and management instruments, developing a gender-responsive budgeting methodology, and making greater use of data to inform institutional decision-making.

Efforts to build internal capacity were also recognized, including a network of designated staff working on the gender equality agenda in different areas of the Court. The assessment further pointed to the strengthening of zero-tolerance policies and mechanisms to prevent and respond to harassment, violence, and discrimination.

Another notable advance was the increase in women's participation in leadership positions. According to data presented by the evaluator, women's share of these positions rose from 12.3% in January 2017 to 38% in 2026.

Extending gender equality to government auditing

The assessment also highlighted the gradual integration of a gender perspective into the TCU's core audit work. Audits on femicide prevention, the hiring of women who are victims of violence, and efforts to prevent and combat harassment at federal universities were cited as examples of this shift.

The TCU's Secretary-General for Government Audit, Juliana Pontes, emphasized that the gender perspective is not confined to a single unit or to specific audits. She explained that the goal is to apply this lens across oversight work whenever relevant. This helps teams ask different questions and consider how public policies may affect women and men differently.

Result marks the start of a new phase

Marcela Timóteo, the TCU senior specialist who coordinated the project, described the result as a collective achievement that must be followed by continued action.

"I think the words are joy, fulfillment, achievement, and continuity," she said. In her view, the recognition demonstrates the Court's institutional capacity to mobilize different areas around a common challenge and bring about change in its organizational culture.

The assessment indicates that the next step is to consolidate what has been monitoring results, and further integrating a gender perspective into institutional processes and government auditing.

For TCU President Minister Vital do Rêgo, continuing these efforts is essential to secure the gains achieved and keep gender equality firmly on the Court's institutional agenda. "Our commitment is to preserve the progress we have made, strengthen the initiatives already in place, and keep advancing gender equality both within and beyond the Court," he said.