A new international network to strengthen gender equity in transport sector development has been launched.
The Women in Transport (WiT) network has been officially launched following an inaugural conference which brought together representatives from more than 13 countries along with founding partners the International Transport Forum and the World Bank.
WiT is now a central hub for networking, recruitment, training and mentorship, driving gender inclusion across the transport sector. It aims to empower women across all areas of the transport sector, with a particular focus on enhancing women’s participation in mid- and high-skilled technical and leadership roles. Initially, the WiT network will cover the Europe and Central Asia and the Middle East and North Africa regions, but it is expected to gradually expand into a global initiative.
The network’s key objectives are to: –
- Promote normative change for women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields of education and careers.
- Support women’s employment in the sector by sharing knowledge and best practices, as well as encouraging the adoption of equal opportunity policies by employers.
- Scale up project-based and country-specific efforts to promote women in the sector, with an emphasis on leadership and high-skilled technical roles.
WiT is also looking to encourage women to pursue relevant studies and career opportunities in transport, particularly in technical roles. The network also wants to enhance HR policies and practices among transport sector employers to support equal opportunities and inclusive work environments and also support women’s career progression in the sector, with a focus on advancing and nurturing them in leadership roles.
In addition, WiT will address the regulatory barriers that hinder women’s participation and promote policies that create a supportive environment for their recruitment and retention.
Organisations joining WiT can tap into a range of benefits for their employees including professional development opportunities, increased impact, networking, increased visibility and industry insights. While joining the network is free of charge, members are expected to actively participate and contribute to relevant outcomes.
Membership entails developing gender activities with realistic targets, formalised through a Letter of Intent (LOI), a legally non-binding aspirational goal-setting document. These goals can build on existing initiatives and be scaled according to a member’s capacity. Members’ progress will be aggregated and reported annually in the WiT progress report, showcasing both collective and individual achievements. Signing the LOI is essential for the network membership, ensuring collaborative engagement in setting and achieving gender focused goals.
The WiT network has been established by the World Bank Group (IBRD/IDA, IFC, MIGA) and several global and regional development institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the International Transport Forum at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the German Agency for Internation al Cooperation.
Click here to find out more about the Women in Transport network.
