Swisscontact celebrates International Women's Day across the globe – a selection of stories

Through its enterprise and skills development projects, Swisscontact has been fostering more equal access to career opportunities, which plays a significant part in promoting economic growth. In Indonesia, this is being done through the Skills for Competitiveness project, which has trained 301 female students out of a total of 873 graduates studying male-associated subjects.

In commemoration of International Women's Day, Swisscontact in Tanzania joins the world in celebrating women and their achievements. This year’s theme should inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion to forge a better world.

Amid Ukraine's ongoing war, training girls in construction VET schools is crucial. This builds economic resilience, empowers women, promotes gender equality, and supports community rebuilding. It is a strategic initiative with far-reaching social and economic benefits.

This Women's Day, Swisscontact joins the UN's theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” because we believe that on the road to progress and equality, investment in women plays a fundamental role: it can generate economic growth, innovation and creativity, develops communities, and it promotes sustainability and equality.

At Swisscontact, we promote gender equality, striving for the social inclusion of all people for a more sustainable future. From education to economic empowerment, we work to ensure that women are not only included but also leading the way towards more equitable societies. Our Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor, Alessandra Pellegrini, shares two ways in which we contribute to women’s economic empowerment and gender equality.

Through projects like PropelA, Skills for Life (S4L), and our Inclusive Financial Program, we're directly addressing the need for inclusive economic opportunities for women. We're equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and financial resources they need to thrive.

As the world celebrates International Women's Day 2024, Swisscontact in Lebanon reflects on its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and empowerment through its Tafawoq project.

As we commemorate International Women's Day on March 8th, it is crucial to contemplate the significance of inclusion and equal opportunities for women across all facets of society. In Mozambique, the "The Future is Mine" project, spearheaded by Swisscontact, emerges as a beacon of hope and transformation, dedicating its efforts to fostering inclusive environments within the realm of technical vocational education and training.

In Nepal, we organised an in-office speaker series where female staff members discuss their experiences and views on gender equality. Through such forums, we aim to foster dialogues towards empowerment, extending beyond the workplace into broader areas.

Through various interventions, the FEGO project has supported 𝟔𝟗 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 out of 139 in total, accounting for 𝟓𝟎% of all support given in the past years. Additionally, the project has facilitated 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟖𝟑 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧.

Women's entrepreneurship is vitally important as a source of empowerment for women. By engaging in entrepreneurship, women can gain financial independence and escape restrictive social norms. This enables them to make economic decisions and actively contribute to their country's economy.