International Women’s Day in Kenya: How to Create a Happy Workplace for Both Men and Women
March 8 is International Women’s Day as designated by the United Nations. Gender equality is also one of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and countries are making various efforts to achieve it. However, the road ahead is still long, with some shocking estimates suggesting that it will take nearly 300 years to eliminate the gap at the current pace. Gender equality is by no means a women-only issue. We will introduce Kenyan companies that have taken steps toward such a future, where women’s activities stimulate economic activities and both men and women are happy together.
Gender Equality is Essential for Poverty Eradication and Economic Growth In recent years, efforts by the international community have improved women’s health and education levels, and have gradually increased women’s participation in economic activities and politics. Although the gender gap is improving, the pace is slow, and the United Nations reports that it will take 286 years to achieve full realization, including the establishment of laws. Violence against women and girls has not stopped, and many obstacles stand in the way of women’s advancement in society.
Particularly in developing countries, while women contribute greatly to household livelihoods and local economic development, they are treated as relatively cheap labor and engaged in precarious work due to prejudice and discrimination hidden in various market and social institutions and practices. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), for example, 74% of women engaged in non-agricultural work in sub-Saharan Africa and 80% in South Asia are informal workers, self-employed or low-wage workers, including small-scale vendors, store owners, and migrant labor.
However, according to a study conducted by McKinsey & Company, expanding women’s participation in the global economy to the same level as men’s would increase GDP by 26% ($28 trillion) over 10 years. An International Labor Organization survey of 13,000 companies in 70 countries also found that companies that promoted gender diversity at management levels increased profits by an average of 10-15%. Gender equality is essential to stimulate the economy and enrich people’s lives.
Women Supporting Kenya, an Agricultural Powerhouse Kenya is an agricultural powerhouse in eastern Africa, where agriculture accounts for about 34.1% of GDP (2019, see World Bank and Ministry of Foreign Affairs websites). About 70% of the farmers who support it are women. Although women’s participation in society is relatively advanced in Kenya, responsible positions have traditionally been held by men, and the country ranks 128th out of 191 countries on the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index (2021) due to problems with child marriage and delays in health, welfare, and education. Eliminating gender inequality and discrimination is a major social issue in Kenya.
In the capital city of Nairobi, JICA-supported Regen Organics (operated by Sanergy) uses insects to recycle residual organic waste collected from agricultural businesses, markets, restaurants, slaughterhouses, and city sanitary toilets. The company produces and sells organic fertilizers for agriculture, feed protein, and biofuels. Through its recycling-based fertilizer production business, the company contributes to solving multiple social issues such as public health and increasing food production in slums and other areas.
Regen Organics, which has been actively promoting women because of the large number of female employees among its customers, farmers, and the agricultural supply stores that are part of its product sales network, has decided to further promote its efforts by implementing a one-year project starting in April 2021 to strengthen recruitment and training of women in factory operations, sales, and distribution, through the Women’s Empowerment Promotion Project, which will strengthen the recruitment and training of women in factory operations, sales, and distribution for one year starting in April 2021.
Women’s success improves the work-life balance in the workplace. “Don’t limit yourself to your abilities. You have to believe in yourself, and you will find a way,” says Agata Kihiu, factory manager at Regen Organics. Born into an educated family, she learned the knowledge and skills of KAIZEN to improve productivity during her career in the manufacturing industry, which led her to her current position. She now leads a staff of 120.
Two years ago, less than 10% of the entire plant was staffed by women, but now the percentage is over 30%. Our goal is to further increase the number in the future. Women are extremely fast and accurate in detailed work, such as packaging, and in fact, teams with women are more productive. The increased employment of women has shortened working hours throughout the plant, reduced overtime, and improved the work-life balance of all employees, including men. Everyone is satisfied with this initiative,” says Agata.
In sales and distribution, the number of female staff was increased from 12 to 57, and training was provided for sales skills and product knowledge. As a result, the number of business partners has increased from 54 to 138 agricultural organizations run by women, and from 104 to 184 women-owned agricultural supply stores. The number of women farmers who purchase Regen Organics products also tripled from 334 to 977, and sales of Evergrow, the company’s organic fertilizer, doubled.
In implementing the project, Agata was responsible for coaching the women working at the plant to improve their technical and leadership skills. She says that she was able to improve the morale of the women on the shop floor by acting as a mentor, and that she was able to increase productivity and improve the careers of the women. She also focused on creating a workplace that is easy for everyone to work in, by creating a more flexible work schedule so that all men and women can help each other and achieve high performance, and by creating a space where women can breastfeed and milk their babies after giving birth.
In the future, Ms. Agata hopes to increase the number of female leaders in higher positions, especially women in the sciences, through education of human resources. Innovation is very important in the manufacturing industry. Gender inclusion will further accelerate innovation.
© Source JICA
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.