Training

Transformational change for gender equality through responsible business conduct

This three-week online course will look at the role of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations as well as enterprises in advancing gender equality in the world of work, and explore how responsible business conduct can be used to create inclusive and equitable workplaces. The course offers two learning tracks to better fit the diverse training objectives of the participants.

Description

Promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is key to foster decent work and sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth. Women are key drivers of innovation growth and jobs, and the private sector plays a crucial role in enabling the full, productive and equitable participation of women in the world of work. Progress and gains in gender equality realized over the last decades encountered a serious set-back because of the COVID-19 pandemic as women have been disproportionally affected in terms of job and income losses during the pandemic. Against this backdrop, today, more than ever, realizing transformational change to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment requires a catalyst role for the private sector and effective partnerships between government, employers and workers. Responsible Business Conduct (RBC), as part of the wider Business and Human Rights agenda, provides a strong reference framework to address various gender equality gaps in the world of work.

The course will explore international guidance and frameworks in support of gender equality, learn from good practices, and explore practical tools and approaches to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through RBC in the world of work. It offers online learning materials, real case studies, and interactive exercises through the ITCILO eCampus and includes a series of webinars led by experts from the ILO and other international organizations, employers’ and workers’ organizations as well as business companies.

Objective

The course aims to strengthen the capacity of participants to use the principles of RBC to advance decent work opportunities for women and promote women’s economic empowerment. The course will allow the participants to:
  • Learn more about the normative frameworks and international guidance to support gender equality and women’s economic empowerment;
  • Recognize the different roles of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and enterprises in promoting inclusive and equitable workplaces where both women and men can thrive at all levels;
  • Advise on governmental policies, strategies, and actions to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment;
  • Identify how and in which ways RBC can accelerate the progress of closing gender gaps in the workplace and support women’s entrepreneurship.

Who attends this course?


This course is designed for:
  • Representatives of government, employers’ and workers’ organizations responsible for or with a demonstrated strong interest in policies related to responsible business conduct and gender equality.
  • Enterprises, both SMEs and multinational enterprises.
  • CSR/RBC, business and human rights and/or sustainability professionals.
  • Gender, diversity and inclusion specialists.

Online application to be completed by 
7 November 2022