Advancing gender equality in Mongolia’s construction sector
SocietyUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The construction sector is dominated by men, not only in Mongolia but also in countries throughout the world. Even in an advanced economy like the US, women consist of less than 1% of construction workers on the jobsite.
Here at the EU Funded Switch Off Air Pollution Project (SOAP), we’re working to redefine the role of women in the construction sector by working with jobsite team leaders, locally known as brigade leaders, to break outdated gender norms and help them find the best construction workers, regardless of sex. But we’re also training women to join the booming construction sector.
In addition to attending trainings about business, construction, and gender, my approach to work has changed as I have learned how to manage my team properly during the management training,” explains Ankhmaa, a female brigade leader in the project.
“I feel as if I am
doing my job better as my fears of working in a male-dominated field
disappeared. My self-confidence and professionalism has increased due to
different trainings and practice at work.”
Through the project, construction
workers, brigades or micro business owners were trained to provide quality
insulation services – creating opportunities to grow as a business.
By training and working with brigade leaders, we’re aiming to have
construction workers hired based on merit and skills, not sex. To do this we’re
also training women brigade members not only do the insulation work, but also
lead the insulation brigades’ team. To date, about 40 percent of the insulated
houses under the project were done by women-led brigades – a significantly
higher rate when compared across Mongolia’s construction industry. We have
trained 29 brigades and 7 of them are women brigade leaders.
"As someone who is well
aware of the challenges facing women in the construction industry, I am very
pleased to be involved in a wide range of training and capacity building
activities to support, train and empower women-led brigade teams as part of the
Switch Off Air Pollution
(SOAP) project." said Ms. L. Khulan, Executive Director of the Mongolian
National Construction Association that is in charge of managing brigades in the project.
As part of this work, the project team conducts various business and professional trainings – including regular trainings on gender equality. The Chingeltei District Branch, run by the Mongolian National Construction Association, which is in charge of the brigades, was opened to support brigades or constructions sector MSMEs as one of its most important goals. Through the Chingeltei Branch, the project promotes brigades by providing equal opportunity to both men and women brigades.
“Another problem faced by
self-employed brigades is the lack of contracts, the inability to receive a
regular salary, and the inability to receive it at all. By working on the
project, I could learn the legal environment of a private entrepreneur, protect
myself, and work without worrying about salary issues,” emphasizes Ms. D. Munkhnasan
a, brigade leader.
“The European
Union pays special attention to promotion of gender equality and empowerment of
women in social, economic and political relations. Issue of gender is
mainstreamed in all EU projects and this process is monitored by an instrument
called “Gender Action Plan”. We are pleased to acknowledge the efforts of
Switch Off Air Pollution Project, which aims to increase women's participation
in the construction sector and been able to achieve tangible results,” says Mr. Pierre-Yves Lucas, Cooperation Team Leader of the Delegation of
the European Union to Mongolia.
The Switch Off Air Pollution project plans to train 50 brigades by the end
of 2021, with equal opportunity for both men and women brigade members.
About Switch Off Air Pollution:
Co-financed
by the Switch Asia programme under the European Union, with additional support from Abbe Pierre Foundation, Czech
Development Agency
and the French Development Agency; the Switch Off Air Pollution project is being
implemented by Geres Mongolia, in collaboration with Building
Energy Efficiency Center of the Mongolian University of Science and
Technology, Mongolian
National Construction Association and People
in Need INGO
during the 2018-2021 period.
Project
website - www.dulaalga.mn
About
Geres Mongolia:
Geres is an international NGO with expertise
in energy and development, with over 40 years of experience in Europe, Africa,
and Asia improving living conditions of the people and fighting against the
impacts of climate change.
If
you have additional media inquiries, please contact Odonchimeg.I, Geres
Mongolia Communications Officer: +976-75052000 and o.idersaikhan@geres.eu
About Mongolian National Construction Association:
Mongolian National Construction Association is the
leading professional organization in the construction sector, bringing together
some of Mongolia's largest national developers, recognized nationally and
internationally, performing some government functions, and operating in the
construction sector. The Association promotes public-private partnerships by
advocating for policy, legal and economic reforms in the construction sector,
representing the interests of its member organizations within the law, and
supporting micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction
sector. The MNCA NGO is participating in this project to support the brigades,
who cannot be involved in the construction of ger districts, and to reduce heat
loss in the target group's houses by providing support to construction
businesses and the self-employed.
Chingeltei
branch of Mongolian National Construction section, + (976) 7011 1515, geres_pc@mnca.mn and www.facebook.com/www.mnca.mn
About
Building Energy Efficiency Centre:
Building Energy Efficiency Center of the Mongolian State
University of Science and Technology aims to adopt new technologies related to
energy efficiency and its main activities are testing, studying, training
people involved or interested in energy efficiency matters. Its energy
efficiency certification scheme will be enriched through the course of the
action.
Phone:
+ (976) 99033553, Email: beecmongolia@gmail.com
Website: BEEC.MN
Facebook:
BEEC | Facebook
About
People in Need INGO:
With the main goals of saving
lives, protecting dignity, empowering people and supporting sustainable living,
PIN established a permanent presence in Mongolia in 2011. Today, apart from
providing emergency relief, PIN builds the capacity of cooperatives, civil
society organizations and local authorities, supports sustainable living,
strengthens higher education, promotes environmental protection, and raises
awareness about air pollution.
Phone:
+ (976) 70111501, Email: info.mongolia@peopleinneed.cz
Website: Help with us - People in Need
(clovekvtisni.cz)
Facebook:
People in Need Mongolia | Facebook
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