Phases

For the achievement of objectives, the Women can Build project has four working phases linked to the different outcomes, apart from the transversal stages related to the tasks of planning, management and dissemination of the project.

In addition, a fifth key task for the execution of this project is the intervention of several stakeholders: gender equality experts, employers’ associations and trade unions, and/or public institutions, whose participation and support guarantee the full and effective implementation of all activities of the project.

Each of the project’s phases is related to a target group, trying to engage the different actors involved in the creation of a new framework to favour the incorporation of women in the construction sector. To do this, solutions are proposed for women themselves, teaching staff and sectoral providers of VET and companies in the construction industry.

Thus, the intervention phases in which the project is structured are the following:

1. VET TEACHERS

Training of trainers for the “development of gender equality competence” through a Mooc (Massive Open Online Course), and a Manual for teachers and Employment advisors for their application in the classroom, workshop or company.

The objective is to allow the trainers of the sector to become aware of the existing barriers in terms of gender equality, to know solutions or good practices and actions to resolve them and to learn to deal with conflict resolution.

Activities of the phase:

⇒ Field work:

  • 600 surveys to construction teachers identifying possible gender gaps in their way of working.
  • 6 gender workshops for the proposal of solutions.

⇒ Production of the Mooc and the Manual for teachers and counsellors:

  • Development of contents of the course and the manual, structure, duration, evaluation, etc.

⇒ Launch of the Mooc, pilot test and accreditation:

  • 90 trainers complete the course.

2. Women

Training for women to “learn by doing“. A training experience to introduce participants in construction sector through the teaching of different areas (masonry, tiling, plasterboard, electricity and painting). It is a training to show a general vision of the construction processes, in order to motivate women to find out their future specialization.

The aim is to help overcome cultural barriers and increase women’s interest in sector, integrating a gender perspective.

The course is addressed to unemployed women without previous knowledge in construction.

Activities of the phase:

⇒ Training course development:

  • Definition of objectives, contents, duration, type of evaluation, etc., from a gender perspective.
  • 6 gender workshops to validate the development of the course.

⇒ Training provision, evaluation and accompanying measures:

  • 60 women take the face-to-face course given by a trainer with certification in “gender equality”.
  • 6 groups of experts for the detection of positive and improvable aspects.
  • Workshop for labour orientation and career guidance for the participants.

⇒ Testimonials:

  • Testimonials section with the aim of motivating and encouraging the integration of women in the construction industry.

3. Sectoral VET providers

Development of a Roadmap for VET institutions for a “construction training in gender sensitivity“. The objective is to create an educational methodology and training for the training centres of the sector aimed at achieving effective training in equality, through recommendations and actions ranging from the re-design of the training offer and the re-formulation of the delivery of training and evaluation, up to the provision of specific didactic resources, in order to fight gender stereotypes in VET systems and facilitate the integration of women.

Activities of the phase:

⇒ Field work:

  • 300 surveys to staff of construction VET centres (responsible for training, managers, counsellors, etc.), for the identification of gender gaps both in the internal dimension (organizational and personnel development) as well as in the external dimension (service provision).
  • 18 focus groups in VET centres (construction or other fields), with adolescents, in order to identify their expectations and beliefs regarding the construction sector.

⇒ Analysis and development of the Roadmap:

  • Elaboration of a SWOT analysis and evaluation about the gender approach in the construction VET centres.
  • Definition of improvement areas and solution proposals, as well as the development of a Roadmap for VET staff, for a gender-sensitive institutional transformation and a training methodology that integrates the gender perspective.

4. Construction companies

Elaboration of an Action Plan to address the horizontal and vertical segregation of gender in the construction industry -where the feminization index is 9.07-, unleashing the gender balance through awareness and orientation towards the economic and social partners of the sector.

The objective is the creation of “gender competences in construction industry” and that companies can obtain free guidance for the promotion of gender balance in their organizations.

Activities of the phase:

⇒ Field work:

  • 60 interviews with construction companies (small, medium and large) to identify gender gaps, discover existing values and norms that perpetuate stereotypes and mechanisms that (re)produce inequality.
  • 120 interviews with women working in the construction sector to detect good business practices by having female staff and identify in “first person” the limitations found by women in construction work.

⇒ Identification of solutions and design of the Action Plan for the construction industry for gender awareness:

  • SWOT analysis on good practices and the main limitations for gender balance in the sector.
  • Development of the dossier that provides information and guidance for companies towards a gender-balanced industry.