Session 3 - 18th Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners

Summary of the discussions at the 18th Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners held in Tunisia on September 9-13, 2019

News | 02 March 2020
18th Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practioners “Towards sustainable and inclusive local development: local resource-based approaches and decent job creation”, 9-13 September 2019, Tunis, Tunisia.

Session 3: Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through EIIP - Monday, September 9

Moderator: Ms. Aya Frioui
Part 1: Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment through Employment Intensive Investment Programmes
  1. Video introductory on gender participation in EIIP projects in Tunisia
  2. High Level Introductory Presentation on Gender Equality. Mr. Jad Boubaker (IPDLI-BIT/UE) in behalf of HE Mr. Mokhtar Hammami, Minister of Local Affairs and Environment delivered a speech on Equality and Economic Empowerment of Women in light of the decentralization process in Tunisia and the infrastructure axis.
  3. State of gender mainstreaming in infrastructure development in the Region and presentation of the participants to the following session Ms. Maria Teresa Gutierrez, EIIP specialist in gender issues.
Part 2: Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment through Employment Intensive Investment Programmes (interactive panel, interview format)

The aim of the Panel was to bring to the table the voices of different actors and to allow them to analyse opportunities and constrains to promote gender equality and women's empowerment through Employment Intensive Investment Programmes:
  1. Mr. Htun Hlaing former CTA engineer Jordan .How to enhance women’s participation & leadership through infrastructure works; Are women included in Planning, employability, skills development and empowerment processes?
  2. Ms. Imen Makhlouf, civil Engineer. To what extent is it feasible to empower professional women entering to the civil works labour market?
  3. Mrs. Mokgadi Raganya, South Africa, Contractor. How to engage women in contracting, especially in EIIP initiatives; and b) How to create infrastructure workplaces that are free from discrimination, harassment and violence
The testimonials of each of the members of the panel had a positive impact on the audience. The subsequent phase of Q&A addressed to the five participants. Main questions were on procedures, working conditions and stereotypes that could refrain women engagement in public works. The former CTA and the gender technical specialist responded the questions. It was an opportunity to disseminate the Illustrated Guidelines for Gender-responsive EIIPs especially translated into French for the Regional Seminar.