DEVELOP• EMPOWER• TRANSFORM
Water
Women play a crucial role in providing, managing, and safeguarding water in their communities. However, according to the International Water Association (IWA), “women make up less than 17% of the water, sanitation, and hygiene labour force in developing economies and a fraction of the policymakers, regulators, management, and technical experts.”
sWIBSA is committed to changing the narrative and unlocking the water value chain. We endeavour to promote and facilitate women’s participation and employment in the water sector.
Agriculture & rural development
“Women make up 43% of the global agricultural labour force, yet they face significant discrimination when it comes to land and livestock ownership, equal pay, participation in decision-making entities and access to credit and financial services.” – Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FOA)
sWIBSA advocates for women’s access to land, financial support, agricultural training and development, and suitable working conditions. We believe that closing the gender gap in agriculture would grow food production, promote food safety and empower women in rural and semi-rural areas. Revitalisation of Agricultural Hubs, Clothing, Beading and Textile factories is essential for a vibrant Rural and Township economy.
Infrastructure
“To this day, women struggle to access job opportunities. If they do, the pay they receive is not equal to that of a man who holds the same qualifications, responsibilities and other related factors. Women struggle to find financial resources for projects designed to benefit themselves and their communities. Truth is, the scale is always tipped in favour of men, and that is why critical redress is necessary.
Gender mainstreaming in South Africa, particularly in the infrastructure development sector, has to be treated as high priority to help accelerate regional and national development goals. The growth of our economy relies heavily on such projects being gainful.” – Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
Infrastructure Investment is an essential economic stimulus.
sWIBSA is committed to gender mainstreaming in order to reduce gender inequality in infrastructure. We are committed to ensuring that women are involved throughout the infrastructure lifecylce, including planning, decision-making, financial support and delivery processes.
ICT
“Digital technologies hold immense potential to improve people’s economic and social outcomes, yet challenges remain regarding women’s access to and use of these technologies.” – OECD
As sWIBSA, we want to help reduce the digital gender gap through partnering with organisations that can upskill, develop and empower women. If women are not adequately upskilled, the fourth industrial revolution will result in them being increasingly left out of digital work opportunities. Creating awareness and exposure to innovative technologies, on Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Internet of Things is a must for women so as not to be left behind.
Energy
“In South Africa, the number of women represented in the energy sector is still very much in the minority – despite evidence that shows that companies with more than 33% women leadership tend to have a net profit margin over 10 times greater than those without.” – Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe.
“Renewable energy employs about 32% women, compared to 22% in the energy sector overall. Still, within renewables, women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs is far lower than in administrative jobs.” – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
sWIBSA acknowledges and supports the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s efforts to empower women in the energy sector through its Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGE) Strategy for the Energy Sector 2021 – 2025. As sWIBSA, we are excited about this initiative – we strongly believe that the energy sector needs more women involved, particularly as the country transitions into renewable energy. For the transition to be Just, women cannot be left out of the conversation.
Environment
“Africa is one of the continents facing the most severe impacts of climate change, with 9 out of the 10 most vulnerable countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change is expected to drastically impact agricultural productivity, increase incidence of disease, poverty and water stress thus lead to conflict.
Climate change mostly affects those who depend mainly on natural resources and whose livelihoods are climate sensitive, many of which are marginalized communities, (which is th majority of our population in SA), including women in agriculture.” – UN Women
sWIBSA believes that women should be involved in the planning, policy-making, implementation, and decision-making with respect to climate change initiatives. sWIBSA aims to play a key role in partnering and upskilling women for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Tourism
“In most regions of the world, women make up the majority of the tourism workforce. Women tend to be concentrated in the lowest paid and lowest status jobs in tourism.” – United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
As sWIBSA, we want to help ensure that women in tourism are empowered to such an extent that they too participate in the economic opportunities in the tourism industry and not just be on the periphery of such opportunities.
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