Engendering Industries Welcomes New Partners
USAID’s Engendering Industries program welcomes 13 new partners from 10 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Read the announcement
© INAPA
Speeches Shim
INAPA provides drinking water, wastewater services, and rainwater disposal to 71 percent of the population. The utility is partnering with USAID to increase gender equality and improve company performance.
© INAPA
Engendering Industries Partner Profile
INAPA provides drinking water, wastewater services, and rainwater disposal to 71 percent of the population in the Dominican Republic. The utility is partnering with USAID to increase gender balance and improve company performance.
When women serve as leaders and employees, businesses benefit and company performance improves. USAID’s Engendering Industries program works to increase women’s participation in male-dominated sectors globally. In 2021, Engendering Industries partnered with INAPA—a water utility in the Dominican Republic—to design workplace initiatives that will expand job opportunities for women and enhance the utility’s performance. INAPA provides drinking water supply systems, wastewater services, and rainwater disposal to both urban and rural parts of the Dominican Republic. Established as a state-owned company in 1962, INAPA serves 71 percent of the country’s population across 25 provinces. Recognizing that diverse teams build better businesses, INAPA is partnering with USAID to increase gender balance across the company and encourage more women to enter the Dominican Republic’s water sector.
Gender Equality in Action at INAPA
Engendering Industries uses a globally-recognized evidence-based methodology to support women’s participation in the Dominican Republic’s water sector. The program supports INAPA to increase opportunities for women by introducing gender equality initiatives at each phase of the employee lifecycle—from reducing gender bias at the hiring stage, to creating strategies that will help retain female talent. Engendering Utilities is supporting INAPA towards their goal of advancing gender equality within the organization.
A dedicated change management coach supports the utility and works directly with three staff to become agents of change within INAPA. A baseline assessment is conducted to identify gaps and opportunities for improving gender equality across the company. The findings are used to develop a strategic action plan that will facilitate INAPA’s gender equality goals. This is supplemented by the program’s partnership with the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, which delivers the Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program (GEELP) to three utility employees. The GEELP is a best-in-class 12-month executive course that empowers decision-makers to integrate gender equality initiatives into their corporate structure.
Engendering Utilities will also work to support and accelerate existing gender equality initiatives underway at INAPA, including:
- Leveraging the Department of Gender Equity and Development, which plays an important role in advancing women’s careers at the utility.
- Strengthening of gender equality training, particularly related to gender-based violence. INAPA trains employees on topics such as intimate partner violence, femicide, psychological and emotional violence, and more.
- Becoming an employer of choice for women by marketing, communicating, and recognizing women through events such as International Women’s Day, which the utility celebrates annually with a conference for female employees. During the conference, the utility also recognizes a select number of women with awards for their contributions to INAPA.
Last updated: November 15, 2021
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