The WHO Global Health Workforce Network (GWHN) thematic hub on Gender Equity in the Health and Social Workforce, co-chaired by WHO and Women in Global Health was launched at the 4th Global Forum on Human Resources for Health in November 2017.  The purpose of the Hub is to accelerate large-scale gender-transformative progress to address gender inequities and biases in the health and social workforce for the SDGs as envisioned by the Working for Health five-year action plan.

 

The Hub has conducted a global call for submissions to bring together available experience and evidence on analysing and addressing gender inequities and occupational segregation issues across the education, training, employment and career progression of health and social workers. We recognise the importance of using an intersectional lens with regard to gender inequalities as other axes of inequity intersect with gender to disadvantage some groups of women more than others. In addition, we recognize that gender is not be limited to women’s issues; men and other genders must be engaged for deep and meaningful gender transformation. The Hub is interested to synthesize current experience and evidence as well as learn from past experience and evidence.

 

This call for submissions was the crowd-sourced component of a mapping exercise that is being undertaken by the Hub to identify key stakeholders and map existing initiatives, published and gray literature and programmes of relevance, including intersectorial opportunities to progress this agenda. The global mapping exercise brought together the evidence and know-how to inform the Terms of Reference and work plan of the Hub.  Individuals, groups, organizations and countries were invited to contribute to this call. Submissions from outside the health and social sectors were also greatly welcomed.

 

Submissions may include scientific, social and community research evidence, case studies, programmes, policies, strategies on workforce gender equity and occupational segregation. Authors specified how these initiatives contribute to or have the potential to contribute to progressing gender equity in the community, institutional, national, regional and/or global level.

 

Submissions were sought on the following areas of gender inequities in the health and social workforce:

a. Increasing opportunities for education and training, (and career progression)

b. Transforming unpaid care and informal work into decent jobs

c. Equal pay for work of equal value

d. Decent working conditions and occupational safety and health

e. Promoting employment free from harassment, discrimination and violence

f. Equal representation in management and leadership positions

g. Social protection, child care, and elderly care

h. Occupational segregation

 

Submissions were asked to address the following questions:

a. Describe the important contextual factors that were relevant to the study/initiative:

b. Describe the gender-inequity relevant objective(s) of the study/initiative:

c. Describe the study methodology or intervention(s) implemented in the initiative:

d. How was the study/initiative implemented?

e. What were the key findings or outcomes?

f. What were the strengths of the study/initiative?

g. What were the weaknesses of the study/initiative?

h. What were the lessons learned?

i. How will the study/initiative findings or outcomes be used in the future?

 

Submissions were welcomed in English, French or Spanish.

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If you have any questions or for more information on this call, please email info@womeningh.org.

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References:

1. All those engaged in action whose primary intent is health and health-related social care.

2. Gender-transformative approaches seek to re-define women’s and men’s gender roles and relations to promote gender equality and achieve positive development outcomes by transforming unequal gender relations in order to promote shared power, control of resources, decision-making, and support for women’s empowerment.