Engendering Industries works with organizations in male-dominated industries to increase economic opportunities for women and improve gender equality in the workplace. This presentation provides a brief overview of the program, its activities and results.

USAID began the Engendering Industries program by conducting baseline research across 14 electric utilities globally to analyze the role of women in the power sector. Next, tailored interventions were developed with seven utilities to enhance gender equity in each utility’s policies and operations. Then, tools and an executive leadership program were developed focusing on global gender best practices throughout the employee life cycle model. Today, USAID continues to expand the approach, partnering with 41 organizations in male-dominated industries across 27 countries, while continuing to provide tailored coaching to its graduated partners.

Conducting Groundbreaking Research on Gender Disparity in the Energy Sector

The Engendering Industries program began with a study—the first of its kind—to examine the role of women and gender disparities within electric power distribution companies. The data showed wide variation in employment practices and outcomes and suggested that women were excluded from the majority of jobs within these companies. The findings illustrated inequalities in employment outcomes and disparities in the way utilities run their businesses, both of which ultimately impact women’s ability to fully participate in the energy sector.

Partnering with Organizations to Increase Gender Equality, Create Leadership Opportunities and Develop Talent

To address the research findings, USAID’s Engendering Industries program initially began working with seven electricity utilities in 2016 to improve gender equality outcomes and enhance business performance. Over the past three years, USAID has partnered with 29 organizations from 21 countries to implement tailored interventions to improve gender equality, guided by an evidence-based approach.

Engendering Industries interventions with the program’s seven initial utility partners resulted in an increase in the number of female employees. Most utilities also saw an increase in the number of women participating in employee training programs, and some saw an increase in the number of women trainees hired, the number of women interviewed, and the number of women participating in internship programs. Additionally, all Engendering Industries partner organizations have reviewed their human resources procedures and benefits against global standards, and are in the process of adopting equal opportunity statements. They have also conducted salary reviews to examine gender gaps in pay and are collecting sex-disaggregated employee satisfaction data, many for the first time in the company’s history.

Reforming the Employee Life Cycle to Solidify Long-term Organizational Change

In 2017, USAID refined the approach of the Engendering Industries program to focus specifically on improving gender equity throughout the employee life cycle. From hiring and recruitment to retirement and succession planning, interventions along the employee life cycle represent significant opportunities to promote gender equality within organizations.

The Engendering Industries Human Resources Framework

USAID developed this compilation of global best practices as a tool to increase gender equity throughout the employee life cycle—helping organizations benchmark their current policies, practices, and operations against global best practices.

Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program

Developed by USAID and Georgetown University, partner organizations receive training to design and implement activities to address identified gender equality gaps. The course builds the capacity of key human resources administrators, operational area managers, and other key decision-makers in partner organizations to effectively integrate gender equity initiatives within their corporate structure.

Expert Coaching

USAID pairs each partner organization with a dedicated expert change management coach with gender equality expertise who provides tailored technical support as organizations analyze gaps, design and implement interventions, and monitor their progress toward gender equality and strengthening business outcomes.

Implementation of Gender Equity Interventions

Each partner organization conducts an analysis to understand key gender equality gaps and designs and implements appropriate interventions throughout their participation in the program, drawing upon the program’s Best Practices Framework.

Robust Monitoring and Evaluation

Baseline assessments aligned with the program’s employee life cycle model allow partners to benchmark themselves, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and track their progress in close collaboration with their dedicated change management coach. The robust data collection and analysis add to the global evidence base to support understanding of the most effective interventions for organizations to improve gender equality and business performance.