REPORT IWD 2021 WEBINAR - UFM
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IWD 2021 Webinar Report
2 IWD 2021 CONTENTS
IWD 2021 Webinar
Report
© Union for the Mediterranean 2021
Social & Civil Affairs
www.ufmsecretariat.org
Palau de Pedralbes | Pere Duran Farell, 11
08034 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: 00 34 93 521 4100
Fax: 00 34 93 521 4102
In collaboration with
CONTENTS IWD 2021 3
Contents
FOREWORD................................................................................................................................................................4
PRESENTING GAP III - TOWARDS A GENDER EQUAL WORLD...............................................5
SESSION 1: WOMEN IN BUSINESS..............................................................................................................6
SESSION 2: WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE.................................................................................................. 8
SESSION 3: WOMEN AND THE HEALTH CARE SECTOR.. ......................................................... 9
UFM LABELLED PROJECTS..............................................................................................................................10
THE CONFERENCE IN NUMBERS...............................................................................................................11
4 IWD 2021 CONTENTS
Foreword
We chose to hold the webinar, among other against the pandemic, their voices remain ignored
objectives, to commemorate the International and left out of the decision-making bodies. Faced
Women’s Day. Over 100 years ago, women across with this unacceptable reality, and in line with the
the world began to protest and march to claim UN Women’s’ theme for this year’s International
their right to suffrage, their right to equal pay and Women’s Day “Women in leadership: Achieving
better working conditions; in other words, to claim an equal future in a Covid-19 world”, aims to
equal rights to men. The hardships that women highlight the multifaceted challenges that women
around the globe experience are not by chance continue to face to reach an equal future. Gender
or a coincidence but rather based on structural equality is not only a fundamental human right
inequalities. We note that the situation for women but an indication of prosperity in our societies.
empowerment has improved, but progress has Women empowerment is the precondition for
been too little and too slow. Many challenges sustainable societies and strong economies.
remain ahead to achieve gender parity, and all of
them have now been exacerbated by the current The UfM has always put gender equality and
Covid-19 pandemic. women’s empowerment at the heart of its agenda.
This agenda was notably endorsed by the 4th Ambassador Marisa
The pandemic has taken a great toll on our Ministerial Cairo Declaration on Strengthening Farrugia, Deputy Secretary-
societies, our lives and economy. Evidence shows the Role of Women in Society, 2017, which General, Social and Civil
that the impacts of crisis are never gender neutral, identified four priority areas, one of which is Affairs (UfM)
and Covid-19 is no exception. The milestone “strengthening women’s access to leadership and
strides made in the past decades are now at risk decision-making positions”.
of being rolled back. In the midst of a global
pandemic, this webinar serves as a reminder to Our region is weakened by the exclusion of
assess the progress made in advancing gender women’s talent and knowledge. In order to achieve
equality and women’s’ leadership in the region, the SDGs in 2030, a transformative gender agenda
but also of all the work that still needs to be done. that places women at the same level with men is
As health care and agricultural workers, nurses needed. It is important not to compromise gender
or caregivers, women and girls have worked equality in the midst of a global crisis. Doing so
relentlessly not only to fight COVID-19 but also will have devastating consequences for women
to shape a more equal and inclusive future and and girls. Gender equality must remain a priority
pandemic recovery. However, we are noticing that and also high on national and regional agendas.
while women have been in the frontline of the fight
CONTENTS IWD 2021 5
Presenting GAP III - Towards a
gender-equal world
The EU’s new Action Plan on Gender Equality and regional and country levels, based on gender
Women’s Empowerment in External Action 2021– analysis, dialogue with national government
2025 (GAP III) was presented. Very ambitious in and consultations with women’s organisations,
its scope and objectives, this agenda for gender identifying the main areas of work for the next
equality has been informed by consultations with five years and objectives to be reached.
member states, civil society, and EU delegations
working in partner countries and the lessons The plan includes six key areas of engagement:
learned from GAP I and GAP II. ensuring freedom from all forms of gender-based
violence, promoting sexual and reproductive
One of the main pillars of the plan is the engagement health and rights, strengthening economic social Olga Martín Gonzalez
for gender equality and women’s empowerment rights & empowering girls and women, promoting Gender Equality
for more effective gender mainstreaming. GAP equal participation and leadership, integrating the Coordinator, DG NEAR
III introduces stringent rules for applying and women, peace and security agenda and addressing European Commission
monitoring gender mainstreaming across sectors. the challenges and harnessing the opportunities
The key principles to tackling the root causes of offered by the green transition and digitalization.
inequality are: adopting a gender transformative The strategy will be funded within the framework
approach to shift gender power relations, of the new Neighbourhood, Development and
considering intersectionality (race, age, religion, International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)
disability) and using a rights-based approach for the 2021-2027 period.
that builds on the human rights framework. It is
a joint strategic EU engagement at multilateral, View the EU GAP III presentation.6 IWD 2021 CONTENTS
Session 1: Women in Business,
Entrepreneurship and Digital
Economy
The pandemic has had a profound impact across Panellists discussed the increase in teleworking,
the global economy, with disrupted markets which can have both positive and challenging
and supply chains, businesses having to close implications for women. This working method can
and many jobs lost. Women will be affected mean missing out on formal and informal support
disproportionately. In the MENA region, the structures making women more isolated and Jihen Boutiba, General
impact of Covid-19 has been particularly serious vulnerable to violence and harassment. Decreased Secretary of BUSINESSMED
on the informal economy and informal workers personal contacts with colleagues can also translate
and on those sectors where women are highly into less access to information, training and
represented, such as tourism. promotion opportunities which can help women
advance. Helena de Felipe Lehtonen pointed out
Women’s economic participation in the MENA that “teleworking provides opportunities such
region is very low (19.77% in 2019, which was as increased flexibility to combine unpaid care
the lowest in the world). Although the tendency activities with paid work activities and a better
is to grow, it is growing at an unsustainably slow match between labour supply and demand”, as
pace. Female entrepreneurship numbers are workers do not need to relocate.
also low. There are structural conditions to take
into account when analysing the lack of female When addressing the effects digitalisation can
representation in the private sector. have on women’s participation, Jihen Boutiba
pointed to the increased use of technology and Dr. Carlos Conde, Head of
Legal discrimination is an issue which requires the “changes in ways of doing business in the the Middle East and Africa
important attention. Legal equality is not a digital economy, which can help bridge the gender Division, OECD
reality in all countries. In some countries legal divide”. The panellists referred to a regional
discrimination can entail the need of a man’s paradox in MENA countries: while the region
co-signature to sign a contract, difficult conditions has the highest rate of women engineers in the
to access credit as well as unequal access to family world and STEM graduates, as well as a high
assets. Uneven distribution of unpaid work also number of start-ups founded by women, these
hinders the advancement of women and the numbers do not translate into high workforce
lack of family friendly policies to support work- participation -women disappear in the work
life balance. place and are underrepresented in management
positions. In Tunisia, 60% tech graduates are
Experts highlighted the struggle of the private women, and women are outperforming men in
sector to deliver enough jobs, which affects both their studies, but when we look at management
men and women. Public sector employment positions in the sector, they only represent 5%.
is very prominent and the preferred sector for Beyond these facts, there is also a large digital Mª Helena de Felipe,
women. Participating of women in the formal divide which especially affects women. President of Afaemme
sector is very low. They pointed to the need for
social dialogue between business organisations Changes brought by Covid-19 and the digital
and unions, supported by policies and strategies transformation have potential for the redistribution
to enhance the private sector. By fostering public of power, such as the opportunity to re-design
private partnerships, governments can support work places, which have traditionally been tailored
SMEs who have a key role in increasing female for men, to make them more inclusive: networks
economic participation. In order to increase can become more accessible and women should be
female entrepreneurship, there is a need to remove encouraged to be more present on digital networks.
barriers in access to information, to financial In the digital era, the rules of organisation have
services and more investment promotion policies changed as companies transition towards more
and tools to foster women’s participation, through horizontal structures more suited to female Amel Saidane, Digital Arab
quotas. leadership styles. Amel Saidane, from Tunisia Network, President of
Start-ups, called to “leverage the communities’ TunisianStartUpsCONTENTS IWD 2021 7 effect digitalization provides, giving women a gathering gender disaggregated data which for voice is just one click away”. Additionally, she evidence based policy making. 1. Speakers from Session 1 discussed how mobility restrictions due to the 2. Business Country Desk pandemic have also limited the brain drain in the The experts agreed that we should not get trapped, region in terms of engineers and tech resources nor use Covid-19 and an excuse for inequality, and pointed to the opportunity to tap into women’s but rather accelerate action, to make sure women talents in IT to deliver services in new markets. are an active part of the digital transition and also Panellists highlighted that there is momentum play a role in leadership. for change, and there are progressive reforms taking place in several countries. Many responses Jihen Boutiba presented the Business Country to the economic impact of the pandemic have Desk, led by BusinessMed, which provides access had a gendered angle. Carlos Conde stressed the to reliable data shaping the business climate of importance of a gendered approach to Covid-19 Southern Mediterranean countries, promotes recovery stating that “reactivation packages to synergies and connects economic operators in build back better are an opportunity to strongly the Euro-Mediterranean region, and initiate advance in gender equality”. He also underscored and develop North-South and/or South-South the significance of gender budgeting as well as business partnerships. Read more here.
8 IWD 2021 CONTENTS
Session 2: Women in Agriculture
Women in the Mediterranean region ensure violence. In flow economies it is important to
food security, and have been at the heart of the ensure that assets and relief packages are provided
communities’ and families’ resilience of Covid- to make sure the agricultural calendar is not
19. The region is not uniform, so the crisis itself missed and to avoid further compromising food
resulted in a wide range of impacts. It stressed security in the communities. Other social packages
pre-existing political tensions, exacerbated fragile to compensate for the loss of income are needed.
situations, and deepened inequalities. Support to financial services is also important so
that both families and businesses can renegotiate
Country-wide lockdowns were introduced and some of the payment terms and the micro financial
businesses were closed, which led to a crushing institution can receive additional liquidity and Yasmine Seghirate, Policy
of formal and informal economy. During the avoid additional stress to the already endured and Communications
pandemic, the burden of unpaid care and domestic measures. It is also crucial for women to have Manager, CIHEAM
work has increased, especially for women. access to finance on equal footing as men.
According to a recent study conducted in the
region, 70% of women surveyed reported an “indicator systems are very useful to
increase in household chores and childcare care design and test the situation’s evolution, in
duties compared to 59% of men. In rural areas, times of crisis the analyses are even more
women reported that 60% of their time (14 hours important to help public institutions in
of their day) is dedicated to household chores decision making processes.”
or unpaid work, compared to 12% of the time
for the male counterparts, which does not leave More generally, women need to be represented at
much time for women to generate income. The all different stages of the decision making process
disruption in public transport affected women so that they can respond to the specific needs of
involved in off farm working because most of rural women in the different contribution to the Ndaya Beltchika, Lead
them rely on public transportation to get to economy. Myriam Fournier Kacimi underlined the Technical Specialist for
work. Agricultural activities in the informal important role women have played in leadership Gender and Social Inclusion,
economy, where 96% of women are engaged, during the crisis. She pointed out how countries IFAD
were severely hit leaving women particularly and local communities led by women have been
vulnerable as they are not protected by social more successful than men in responding to the
protection services. Women entrepreneurs in pandemic and how important it is for women in
microbusinesses have been hit very hard in sectors agriculture to also be represented in leadership.
such as accommodation services, agriculture, As rural areas present diverse traits and a high
forestry and fisheries. degree of complexity, there is a need for more
detailed studies in order to obtain data. Margarita
“women can secure food and build more Rico, explained that “indicator systems are very
sustainable and inclusive systems: we useful to design and test the situation’s evolution,
need to invest in women to help them in times of crisis the analyses are even more
deploy their potential” important to help public institutions in decision Dr. Margarita Rico, Professor,
making processes.” The importance of education University of Valladolid
Panellists were of converging views that in order and training for rural women was also highlighted,
to tackle these effects, social policies should be as it correlates positively to the development of
revised to prioritise services to address women’s rural areas. However, having qualified women
needs, including those of victims of gender based to do the job does not suffice. Ndaya Beltchika
stressed the need for “gender transformative
approaches for food systems, meaning approaches
that challenge the social norms”. The situation calls
for clear action plans and sex disaggregated data
to measure results and track progress.
Yasmine Seghirate, the moderator of the panel,
closed the session by underlining that “women Myriam Fournier Kacimi,
can secure food and build more sustainable and CEO, Sungy Sas
inclusive systems, we need to invest in women to
help them deploy their potential.”CONTENTS IWD 2021 9
Session 3: Women and the Health
Care Sector
Covid-19 has shed a light on gender inequality group of women. Maryam Bigdeli: “More should
in the health care sector, especially in the senior be done to bring diverse voices to contribute to
and decision-making positions that are mostly the debate.” She also pointed to the importance of
occupied by men. The need for public policies is encouraging women in decision-making positions
urgent to address the unequal distribution of care to facilitate other women’s access to leadership,
work as well as cultural and gender stereotypes. improve their working conditions and use their
This will help build more resilient health-care voices to push for a more progressive agenda.
systems and universal healthcare coverage.
Agnes Buzyn focused on the “need to change the
Anna Rita Ronzoni, the moderator of the panel, narrative about women. Women aren’t just care Anna Rita Ronzoni ,
set the scene by claiming that “Since day one, consumers, they’re not just service providers, they Technical Officer for Gender-
women have been at the forefront of the pandemic, are also a vector for change”. Women are often seen Based Violence, WHO
making the centrality of women’s contribution as vulnerable populations instead of experts and
very clear. So, women leaders need to be at the valuable agents in decision-making. Women are
decision-making table.” Experts discussed the leaders in their homes and their communities,
main barriers that explain the underrepresentation and in the health sector, they really need to be
of women in leadership in the health care sector seen as the experts, especially in this pandemic.
and called for a gender transformative approach The WHO has declared 2021 the International
to tackle the root causes for power imbalances. Year of Health and Care Workers, putting the
They underlined the need to fix workplaces, spotlight on the need to invest in health workers
systems and culture rather than women. Roopa for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic
Dhatt stressed that “we talk about fixing women, opportunity and equity. Thus this panel came at
and about things that women must do, but often the right moment to highlight the role of women
women already have talent and expertise, they in this sector; it is time for us to improve their Dr. Agnès Buzyn, Director
just don’t have the right environment”. Panellists visibility. General’s Envoy for
highlighted the need for public policies to reinforce Multilateral Affairs, WHO
health care human resources, which should be “We talk about fixing women, and about
built in tandem with communities. Legal reform things that women must do, but often
for parental leave was highlighted as a key factor women already have talent and expertise,
contributing to imbalance on the workplace. they just don’t have the right environment”
Investing in women is key, and has multiple Roopa Dhatt introduced a toolkit on leadership: a
positive effects. Data shows that for every job in four-point framework on the basic road map for
the health sector, two to three other jobs are created governments, civil society and private sector. The
in health related sectors, including education toolkit aims at being a model for legal frameworks
and transportation. Additionally, investing in for women, which can be contextualized at country
women in the health care sector enhances women’s level to adapt to each context. It also includes a
economic empowerment, increasing their income checklist and policy action framework for men. Dr. Roopa Dhatt, Executive
and their decision making power. Experts also Dr. Dhatt stressed that “men’s health suffers as Director, Women in Global
pointed to the multiplier effect that investing in much as women’s does when patriarchal norms Health
women has on welfare for children and families, serve an elite minority”, referring to suicide and
and finally highlighted that it can also contribute homicide rates due to harmful masculinities
to the goal of universal health care for all. which impact men in particular, not just during
Covid-19.
The panellists discussed the need to attract
talent and have targeted campaigns to include Experts expressed their deep concerns that some
underrepresented groups which also means countries will roll back decades in progress made
bringing men into fields like nursing, midwifery in gender equality due to the pandemic’s effects
and community health work so it does not remain on the balance of households. The recovery
a feminised place. Experts also stressed the need responses to the pandemic are an occasion to
to refuse tokenism as there is a risk of pushing for drive the foundations for equality.
gender parity by bringing always the same voices Maryam Bigdeli, WHO
to the table and often it only includes an elite representative for Morocco10 IWD 2021 CONTENTS
UfM Labelled Projects
Anna Dorangricchia introduced the section and in Tunisia in January 2021. The project supports
referred to the project InnovAgroWoMed. Social women entrepreneurs who invest in cosmetics and
Innovation in the Agri-food sector for Women’s parapharmaceuticals based on natural products.
Empowerment in the Mediterranean Sea basin. The initiative aims to contribute to the overall
Read more here. effort to facilitate women’s micro, small and
medium-sized enterprises’ access to finance,
During crisis times, SMEs and self-employed markets, technology and business networks.
women take high risks so it is important to help The project has a regional dimension, which is
them navigate this crisis, absorb the shocks and currently under development. This is a holistic
bounce back. CEED’s “We Inspire” programme program that aims at strengthening capacities,
worked to enable women entrepreneurs to create building synergies and challenging gender Anna Dorangricchia. Project
jobs opportunities and contribute positively to the stereotypes. Read more here. Manager, Social and Civil
development of their country, help them overcome Affairs, UfM
the COVID-19 crisis and keep their businesses This session tackled how the initiatives have
afloat, while networking with like-minded navigated the crisis, and how digitalization is
entrepreneurs from the various countries to learn an opportunity in the region that needs to be
about different ways to overcome challenges as properly seized. Due to its centrality and timely
well as business opportunities on the international relevance, digitalization will be the theme for this
level. Read more here. year’s UfM Women Business Forum which will
take place in July. More information about the
“Promoting the empowerment of women for event will be shared shortly.
inclusive and sustainable industrial development
in Tunisia”, UNIDO’s pilot programme, started
Fatima Zahra Oukacha, CEED
MENA Director
Neila Amara, International
Program Management
Specialist, UNIDO11 IWD 2021 CONTENTS
+860 56%NorthMed
Participants
40%South &
60 Countries
East Med
4% Other
+700 Views
onFacebook
+15 experts
42 social
+10 interviews
media posts
24 news articles 57%
Southern Med
reaching a potential Media coverage
29M audience 43% Northern MedCONTENTS IWD 2021 13
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