Gender Equity Seal Equality Means

Business

Promoting Gender Equity and Productivity in the Private Sector

Maya Morsy, PHD Country Coordinator

Egypt

GES STORY

Gender Equity SEAL in Egypt is modeled after the Mexico (Generosidad – Generosity)

supported by the World Bank

In Egypt it is a UNIFEM World Bank initiative that started in 2007 Led by the

Ministry of Investment, and in partnership with the National Council For

Women and Ministry of Manpower and Immigration

GES RATIONALE The full participation of women and their active role in private

sector development is crucial for overall economic growth and development.

 Low female labor participation imposes costs on the economy. On the basis of efficiency alone, it is essential to tap and capture these under-utilized resources. It is essential to tap on these “unused” or “underused” resources.

 There is a strong correlation between women’s incomes and family welfare..

 The principle of equality and its application constitute one of the fundamental rights that are internationally recognized. Equity in the workplace should, therefore, be recognized as a basic principle and as a right in all countries.

GES OBJECTIVE

To institutionalize gender equity policies and facilitate equal opportunities for men and women in access to

jobs, working conditions, as well as professional development, training, and participation in decision-

making processes.

GES DEFINED AS

A management systems focus and seeks to enable ongoing improvement and self-assessment, as well as the identification and lessening of gaps that may exist between men and women through the application of

measures that favor equal opportunities.

The Seal will be granted for 2 years, and after the 2 years another auditing visit to be conducted by the Seal Team, to make sure that the firm/organization is improving

and maintaining the equity policies, then the Validity of the seal is renewed.

The Seal will be granted for 2 years, and after the 2 years another auditing visit to be conducted by the Seal Team, to make sure that the firm/organization is improving

and maintaining the equity policies, then the Validity of the seal is renewed.

To promote gender equity in employment and earnings and enhance the productivity of

women in the Egyptian labor force

Overall Development Goal

• “One Business Community…Equal Opportunity”• The main implementing partner is the Ministry of

Investment and the General Authority for Investment in Partnership with the Ministry of Manpower and

Immigration and National Council For Women.• The initiative aims at enforcing gender equity in 10

private firms. • Capacity Development intervention with tailored

training modules.• Technical Assistance through out all the steps to reach a Letter of Readiness for an auditing phase.

• A Certification Process with a seal in compliance of the private firm with the gender equity principles.

RBI: RBI: ““One Business CommunityOne Business Community…… Equal Equal OpportunityOpportunity””

Champions of The Project

CIB

Prime

Arafa

Egywear & Carter

CID

Olympic

El Araby

Sekem

ElectroStar

Nile Pharmaceuticals

Friends of the Project (Control Group)

• Goldy-Bahgat Group • Arabeya Pharmaceuticals • Suez Bank• Electrometer Sweidy Cables• CIB Captial• BTM• Concrete• Helcometals

PARTNERS

PROCESS

Technical Team :Provision of technical

services to firms

Training Team: Training in areas

identified by the Action Plan

Audit/Seal Team:

Pre-audit

&

certification

of gender equity

Social Marketing:

Full scaled marketing

&

communication strategy

developed to promote

gender equality

- Form a Gender Equity Committee in each company (almost 50% men & 50% women)- Conduct a situation analysis using a self assessment questionnaire & statistically analyze results- Develop an action plan- Provide a training needs assessment -Follow up on action plan-Report on good practices- Prepare the letter of readiness

PROCESS

Technical Team :Provision of technical

services to firms

Training Team: Training in areas

identified by the Action Plan

Audit/Seal Team:

Pre-audit

&

certification

of gender equity

Social Marketing:

Full scaled marketing

&

communication strategy

developed to promote

gender equality

-Prepared 6 generic training modules as follows:-Module 1: The Importance of Gender Equity in the Firm

Module 2: Effective Practical Tools for Promoting Gender Equity in the Firm Module 3: Recruitment and Gender Equity Module 4: Training and Gender Equity Module 5: Career Development and Gender Equity Module 6: Working Towards a Safe Work Environment (Sexual Harassment)

PROCESS

Technical Team :Provision of technical

services to firms

Training Team: Training in areas

identified by the Action Plan

Audit/Seal Team:

Pre-audit

&

certification

of gender equity

Social Marketing:

Full scaled marketing

&

communication strategy

developed to promote

gender equality

-Building a base to promote the GEME Project via designing, drafting, and printing Seal/Logo, Posters, Stands, Brochure, Slogan, Training Certificate -Initial Media campaign to rise awareness among the general public-Three (3) Talk Shows about the RBI project have taken place till April 2009 live on the Egyptian Satellite Channel and one (1) on Nile International News Channel-A full operational plan was drafted and approved by UNIFEM to execute the media plan designed by the team, to determine target groups, approaches, and outcome to promote gender equity and to specify indicators and instruments and advice the “Implementers of the Project” accordingly

PROCESS

Technical Team :Provision of technical

services to firms

Training Team: Training in areas

identified by the Action Plan

Audit/Seal Team:

Pre-audit

&

certification

of gender equity

Social Marketing:

Full scaled marketing

&

communication strategy

developed to promote

gender equality

-Preparation of a specific audit methodology-Certify compliance with agreed-on gender equity principles and standards

-Implementation of a two-phase certification -Preparation of annual reports assessing audit experiences & recommendations -Preparation of a good practices report

GES Auditing • 1No Progress: The action/policy has not been implemented within the

firm; there is no evidence or documentation the action/policy.

• 2 Underdeveloped and/or Not Implemented: The action/policy has not been implemented; however, there is evidence or documentation that the policy/action is being developed.

• 3 Implemented but Requires Improvement: The action/policy has been implemented and documented but requires improvements and corrections in order to meet the requirements specified in the Gender Equity Seal. There is sufficient evidence that the action/policy is near completion.

 • 4 Completed and Efficient: The action/policy has been implemented

and documented; the action/policy has been evaluated internally by the gender equity committee and the committee has documented improvements in the firm; there is significant evidence that shows the completion of the requirements specified in the Gender Equity Seal.

Audit Methodology of GESLinkage to the Women

Empowerment Principles UNIFEM and Global Compact

GES AUDITING 1 Planning (Policy on Gender Equity, Actions that Favor

Gender Equality, Objectives, Organizational Goals, ) Political Will and Support of Higher Management Gender Equity Committee/Gender Coordinator with

Decision Making Power established Gender Policy - Participatory –Documented System–

Translated into Action – Time Bound – Manual and Guidelines- Disseminated - Implemented and Evaluated

Periodic Reports to Higher Management on Performance

Monitoring of Progress on Gender Equality Indicators

Establish high level corporate support for gender equality (First Principle )

ADD Progress as a Factor in Managers Performance Reviews

=

GES AUDITING 2 Equal Opportunities and Compensation , Recruitment and Promotion,

and Compatibility between work and home life for men and women) Recruitment Policy Clear , Anti- discrimination policies established Equal Treatment and Gender Neutral Selection Process (From

announcement to hiring ) enforced Equal opportunities in all levels of management and

representation of the firm ensured Part time, Flexible, and hourly working systems encouraged Equal Pay for Equal Work (Policy and Application) Cost benefit analysis for childcares service Protections against personnel losing their position, title, or level

of employment upon leaving for excused/ recognized maternal or paternal purposes

Maternal Leave Ensured

Treat all Women and men fairly at work- respect and support human rights and non discrimination (Second

Principle)

GES AUDITING 3• Health and Work Environment and Sexual Harassment Familiarity with the laws and codes for hygiene and safety in the

work place Availability of the medical services within and outside the firm for

workers Spelling out the different work and health-related risks for men

and women and ways to prevent such risks Sexual Harassment Policy or Code of Ethics announced Confidentially and privacy of an employee’s harassment case are

protected Safety of Women during commuting to and from Work ensured

Ensure the health , safety and well being of al women and men workers ( Third Principle )

ADD Train security staff and managers to recognize signs of violence against women and understand laws and company policies on human trafficking, labor and sexual exploitation.

GES AUDITING 4• Training , Self Development and Promotion

Equal Opportunities in training and Promotion Perception of Equal Opportunities by the All Employees Training programs conducted during office hours Equal Access to information Criteria for personal development and advancement clear

and transparent within the firm Availability of intention or proactive measures by the

Managers to develop women leaders in the firm Existence of Gender Neutral Performance Evaluation

System

Promote education , training and professional development for women (Fourth Principle )

ADD Equal Opportunities for Informal Mentoring=

GES AUDITING 5• Evaluation of Gender Equity Process in the Firm Defined and documented the procedures for monitoring and

evaluating the gender equity policy Team within the firm assigned to evaluate the execution of the

gender equality plan Evaluations Results disseminated throughout the firm Firm work to better meet the demands of the gender equity policy

and recommendations from the evaluation Established gender equality indicators so that the gender equity

policies can be evaluated with respect to the objectives and goals outlined by the firm

Top Management Procedures to Review the Gender Equity Policy and provided analysis for areas of improvement

Measure and publically report on progress to achieve gender equality Seventh Principle

WHAT IS MISSING AND COULD BE ADDED

• Implement enterprise development, supply chain and advertising practices that empower women.

• Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.

Companies Results

81 % to 98 %

Mainstreaming gender perspective and a culture of equity in private and public organizations, based on the possibility of women and men having access, on

equal terms, to the production and distribution of goods and services