Story:
Increasing the Engagement of Women in the Kenyan Workforce
Increasing the Engagement of Women in the Kenyan Workforce
About this Project
Country:
Kenya
Project Type:
Gender Mainstreaming, Policy and Framework Development, Institutional Strengthening, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Sector:
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Leadership
Delivery Format:
In-Person and Virtual
Partners:
Mastercard Foundation; Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan); 26 Kenyan Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Partner Institutions; Sheridan College
Project Year & Length:
2021-2024; four years
The Opportunity
- Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET is a five-year program (2020-2025) that aimed to increase the participation of young Kenyans, particularly women, in market-relevant skills training programs.
- The Thematic Partnership, under the Young Africa Works program, focused on gender mainstreaming capacity building in 26 partner institutions who support the National Gender Equality Commission’s (NGEC) mandate to promote and ensure gender equality, principles of equality and non-discrimination for all persons in Kenya as provided for in the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
- This partnership included Niagara College and Sheridan College to assist the 26 TVET partners in Kenya to increase women’s engagement in the workforce through the development of processes and policies that promote safe learning environments, primarily for female learners, and strengthening institutional capacity in gender mainstreaming.
- This training program:
- Was designed to enhance the technical capacity of the trainees.
- Informed policymaking.
- Inspired an institutional culture for a safe, inclusive, and secure learning environment through the application of gender mainstreaming methodologies.
- Influenced the formulation of policies and procedures that increased access to dignified and fulfilling work for young women.
Our Approach
- Collaborated with Sheridan College and the 26 TVET partners to determine institutional gender frameworks and policies to enhance gender inclusion and mainstreaming.
- Using a needs-based approach, built capacity through training and workshops based on themes identified through the situational analysis and needs assessments.
- Provided capacity building opportunities that supported the National Gender Equality Commission’s mandate to enhance gender and inclusion awareness and as a constitutional mandate under article 59 (2) (b) ‘to promote gender equality and equity generally.’
- Used a change management approach and provided continuous mentorship throughout this partnership to facilitate the implementation of gender mainstreaming within 26 TVET partner institutions in Kenya.
Partner Outcomes and Success
- A Gender Situational Analysis report was completed based on the existing gender equality policies and practices at the national, county, and institutional levels.
- A Gender Equality Needs Assessment toolkit for the partners was developed.
- Support was provided to TVET partner institutions through a five-module Change Management “Plus” Leadership Series for principals and gender focal points which explored leading organizational transition to support gender mainstreaming in TVET institutions and informed participants on:
- Change Management
- Handling changes related to gender mainstreaming.
- Minimizing negative impacts of change on organizations and teams.
- Seizing opportunities in the working and learning environment to promote gender mainstreaming.
- In total, 177 Gender Equality champions have been identified and mentored, comprising 77 males and 100 females. The series supported partner TVET institutions in gaining practical knowledge and skills to collect and analyze data and develop a Gender Action Plan to support gender-mainstreaming and equality initiatives and activities in their institutions.
- Policy templates for Gender Mainstreaming, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Women in Technical Education and Development and safeguarding policies for Kenyan TVET partner institutions were developed/reviewed and validated.
- Developed and delivered a virtual Research Methodology Training Series that supported the implementation of the Gender Equality Needs Assessment and the analysis of the data to support Gender Action Planning.
- Integrated a gender awareness workshop into the Research Methodology Series’ Kick-Off Session, which was conducted virtually and recorded for access on Google Classroom.
- Recommendations and voluntary compliance aspects were integrated into the Gender Action Planning process within institutions and were the focus of virtual one-on-one meetings dedicated to Gender Action Plans that were held with all 26 institutions.
- Workshops for government officials addressing policy, leadership and governance, budgeting, and monitoring were delivered.
- Awareness workshop for principals, based on findings from focus group conducted which addressed gender-responsive policy, leadership and governance, budgeting, and monitoring.
Niagara College's Institute for Global Education and Training
We are highly skilled at deploying unique, tailored applied education solutions to global challenges one community at a time.