Since 2005, an Award Ceremony to recognise achievements in promoting Gender Equality has formed part of the EBRD’s Annual Meeting and Business Forum.
The Awards recognise the achievements of both men and women whom have demonstrated a commitment to advancing gender equality and diversity in their workplace or business, in one of the Bank’s countries of operation. The Awards aim to reflect the commitment of Bank clients and partners to supporting the promotion of gender equality, including by providing equal opportunities for both men and women. They recognise those individuals (men and women) who demonstrate compelling case studies championing change in their workplace or society, alongside companies that are leading the way in developing a corporate culture of gender equality through internal policies and initiatives.
The Gender Equality Awards form part of the Gender Discussion Panel at the Bank’s Annual Meetings, and together with the discussion panel has become a key feature of the EBRD’s Annual Meeting and Business Forum.
Champions of Gender Equality
The 2017 “Champion of Gender Equality” Awards were presented at the Bank’s Annual Meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus and were held as part of the discussion Panel “Making Green Growth Work for Women.” The panel analysed the employment opportunities for women and men, and the challenges they face in the green economy, with a specific focus on the renewable energy sector, and how the private sector, governments and other stakeholders can support inclusive and gender responsive green growth.
The aim was to recognise individuals and companies who have been working to promote and advance gender equality and diversity in their workplace and business, making equal opportunities a vital part of their business development. Nominations were open to male and female individuals who work for an organisation that is a client of the EBRD and to EBRD corporate clients
Driving equal opportunities
2016 was the EBRD’s first full year of implementation of the Gender Strategy; and the Bank was proud to be able to award three key clients working with the Bank under the new Strategy. These included:
WINNER: “Champion of Gender Equality” Award (Corporate, Public Sector) Infrastruktura e Hekurudhave të Kosovës ShA. /Infrastructure of Kosovo Railways JSC (INFRAKOS), Kosovo
In 2016, the EBRD launched an equal opportunities programme, under its Gender Advisory Services Programme, with Kosovo Railways Infrastructure, to help the company promote equal opportunity policies and practices in its workforce, and with a view to increasing the number of women employees. Since the beginning of the programme, the company has been proactive in implementing positive changes, including capacity building training for HR and mid-senior management with regard to equal opportunities.
The Award was collect on behalf of Infrakos by its CEO, Mr Agron Thaçi, who has been instrumental in the company’s drive to implement the equal opportunities programme.
WINNER: “Champion of Gender Equality” Award (Corporate, Private Sector), TEB ShA, Kosovo
In 2015, TEB joined the EBRD Western Balkans Women in Business Programme and has been delivering successfully to women entrepreneurs under the programme. TEB is a leader in the financial market in Kosovo with regard to developing and delivering financial products for women entrepreneurs, and is (at the time of writing) the only Financial Institution Partner under the Western Balkans Women in Business Programme which has actively promoted women’s start-ups businesses.
WINNER:“Champion of Gender Equality” Award (Individual), Aisuluu Kushtarbekova, (Manager, Project Implementation Unit, Osh City Municipal Auto-Transport Company), Kyrgyz Republic
Under the Bank’s Gender Advisory Services Programme, the EBRD launched an equal opportunities programme in 2015 for the Osh Auto Public Transport Company, with a view to address the lack of female drivers. Ms Kushtarbekova is responsible for the overall implementation of the project, as well as the Gender Advisory Services Programme. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that the company remains focused and committed to the Gender Advisory Services Programme, and with her active support under the Programme, an Equal Opportunities Action Plan has been developed and adopted by the Company. Another achievement of Ms Kurshtarbekova, has been the implementation of an intensive two-month training programme for 12 women, who now are successfully qualified to drive trolley-buses.
Exciting opportunities for women at EBRD
Discover more about the great opportunities available right now for talented women at the EBRD.
Find out more
Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.