Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in the Vietnamese transport sector: From Awareness to Action
IN BRIEF
The world in general, and Vietnam in particular, are taking strong strides to eliminate gender inequality. However, there are still many challenges for women, who continuously face gender-specific difficulties, such as barriers to career development and discriminatory policies that directly affect their economic rights.
With the release of the new National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030, the Government of Vietnam is showing a renewed strong commitment toward an equal and inclusive society. Furthermore, and in line with the long-term development strategy of Vietnam, the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) has always been a core policy priority for the Australian Government and has been key element in all foreign policy, economic diplomacy, development programs and corporate services. Therefore, in the partnership framework between the two Governments, GESI is considered as a key focus for action, and is mainstreamed in all activities.
With this focus in mind, Aus4Transport, in close partnership with the Transport Administration and Management Cadres (ITM), is positively progressing the activity “Capacity Building on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Sustainable Project Management in the Transport Sector”. The activity aims to raise awareness, enhance competencies, and build motivation for MOT staff to address GESI issues in line with Vietnamese Government’s regulations and plan, while at the same time, encouraging all participants to review and address GESI issues by applying international best practices.
The activity, which started in 2020 with the delivery of a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) course, has continued this year with a series of eight training courses on political theory to introduce the concepts of Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion to MOT officers from all administrations departments and agencies. The goal is for this training to be integrated into the regular curriculum offered to MOT professionals by the Institute, promoting gender awareness and mainstreaming it across MOT offices and projects.
KNOW MORE…
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) is a concept that aims to improve opportunity, capacity and access to livelihood assets and services for all citizens in society, including women and girls, people living with a disability, people with diverse gender identities i.e. LBGTIQA+ community, people from ethnic minority groups, the poor,… and all other marginalised people.
As an Australian Government initiative supporting Vietnam’ transport sector, Aus4Transport, has carried out many different initiatives focused on ensuring GESI is considered and comprehensively addressed in all transport infrastructure projects. Some examples of activities the Program has been working include, the development of a Guidance Note on the Management of Social Impacts associated with Temporary Project-Related Labour Influx, the design of a HIV/AIDS and Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign, the design and implementation of a Road Safety Awareness Campaign and, especially, mainstreaming gender awareness for MOT officials through the activity “Capacity Building on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Sustainable Project Management in the Transport Sector” and other gender awareness and training activities.
This activity aims, through a series of training courses delivered collaboratively by ITM and lecturers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), to raise awareness and enhance capacity of transport cadres and transport-related stakeholders in mainstreaming GESI issues in the transport sector. The activity will not only contribute to achieving the government’s targets on GESI, but will also be essential for effective, inclusive and sustainable project management.
Recognising the importance of a continuous and long-term approach, the GESI activity applies the Training of Trainer model (ToT), which will enable ITM lecturers to incorporate this concept in their regular courses and to continue raising awareness about GESI to many more transport professionals in the future.
Following a successful, short online course delivered by QUT lecturers to ITM trainers in October 2020, Aus4Transport and ITM have recently commenced a series of eight introductory GESI courses on political theory to introduce the concepts of Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion. Because of the continuing Covid-19 situation and related border and movement restrictions, the training had to be delivered online, with the main facilitators joining from Australia. To ensure the quality of the training program, Aus4Transport also sponsored an upgrade of ITM’s training room facilities, enabling optimal interaction among participants and lecturers during the course. The GESI training will be delivered to eight different groups by both, lecturers from QUT and ITM. The first three courses will be facilitated by QUT lecturers only, the following two will be delivered jointly and the last three courses will be delivered by ITM lecturers only. This will allows a gradual progression to ensure quality and adequate knowledge transfer.
One of the strong points in this training to date has been the close collaboration between ITM, QUT and all the international and national specialists involved in developing the training materials. This varied combination of professionals has been to ensuring GESI best international practices are correctly adapted and applied to the Vietnamese context in general, and Vietnam’s transport sector in particular. The three-day training course includes three modules: 1. Introduction to Gender Equality, 2. Disability, and 3. Intersection of Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion in the Vietnamese transport sector. The first class was held from 16-18 November with the next one planned for late February 2022, right after Tet Holidays.
Gender and social analysis is essential to gaining a proper understanding of the different needs, perspectives and realities of heterogeneous individuals, genders, and group identities. To ensure an inclusive and sustainable society, it is necessary to change social norms by building a culture of respect and equality supported by a strong political commitment and comprehensive laws and policies. Aus4Transport has been and will continue to support the efforts and initiatives of the Vietnamese Government to prepare, design and implement transport infrastructure projects that are gender aware and socially inclusive.
