Women in the workplace: how better data can lead to systemic change

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BEAM Grab the Mic webinar

Date: 28 January 2020

Speakers: 
Professor Stephanie Barrientos, Research Lead, Work and Opportunities for Women (WOW)
Julia Hakspiel, Learning Manager, Arab Women’s Enterprise Fund (AWEF)
Adriano Scarampi, MSD and MRM Advisor, AWEF/Advisory Practice Lead, MarketShare Associates
Moderator: Erin Markel, Gender Lead, AWEF/Principal Consultant, MarketShare Associates

Lack of data on the number of women workers and their roles means that women’s talents are often excluded from the workplace.

Women represent a significant proportion of workers across various global value chains. However limited data and information on the number of women workers – the roles they play and barriers and opportunities they face - can mean that companies, and even entire sectors, exclude or underutilise women’s talents.

This not only undermines the competitive advantage of firms and industries but leaves women themselves vulnerable and at risk.

Speakers from DFID’s two flagship women’s economic empowerment programmes (WEE) - AWEF and WOW - presented diverse approaches to collecting and using data to enhance understanding of the risks and opportunities for women within a company’s business operations and supply chains.

They shared examples that showcase how collecting the right data on women in the workplace can be used to change companies’ business practices.
Case looked at studies from these sectors:

  • agribusiness
  • garment
  • personal care

They discussed how these changes also contribute to broader changes in the market system, as well as women’s economic empowerment.

Watch the webinar: