South Asia Women in Power Sector Professional Network
Expanding Job Opportunities for Women in the Energy Sector in South Asia
eNewsletter - December 2020
|
|
|
|
South Asia Gender and Energy Facility is collaborating with key partners to create a vibrant and self-sustaining women's professional network – WePOWER.
|
|
|
|
New Targets by WePOWER Partners | December 2020
|
|
|
We’re pleased to announce the new WePOWER targets for 2021. We are very encouraged by the ambitious targets set by our 27 Partners. Despite the restrictions due to the pandemic, our work continues. We deeply appreciate our partners' continued commitment to improving gender equality in the energy sector!
Please visit WePOWER website for more details.
Overview of 27 Partners: (* % is compared to 2020)
- 2021 TOTAL = 611 Activities (65.3%) for 11,456 Females Beneficiaries.
- Our partners set overall lower targets for face-to-face workshops/training (total 30%) due to COVID. However, personal training for returning mothers (256%) increased for 2021, thanks to renewed awareness and interest from our Partners.
- Webinar/online training for female students have been severely impacted (6.8% of 2020 targets). On the other hand, this has increased for female professionals (260%).
- Amazingly, our partners are planning to hire more women, 216 from 165 last year (131%)!
|
|
|
|
We welcome two important partners to the WePOWER Network: POWERGRID India and LECO (Lanka Electricity Company) of Sri-Lanka. Both are major power sector organizations in their respective countries.
|
|
|
|
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), India
Founded in 1989, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) is the state-owned transmission and distribution company and manages the inter-state HV transmission lines. About 50% of the total power generated in India travels through its transmission network. The company has over 9000 employees. POWERGRID has set a target to provide engineering internships to 120 female students, hire 12 female employees and continue supporting the professional network of its female employees. Please see here for more details.
|
|
|
|
The Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), Sri Lanka
The Lanka Electricity Company is the largest distribution company in Sri Lanka. Together with CEB, all of the country’s on-grid electricity partners. The company has over 1500 employees and manages over 500,000 consumer accounts. LECO will train 50 housewives with the help of its 4 female engineers so that they can use the LECO app for paying bills and managing their accounts. The interactions will also encourage the women to promote STEM education to their daughters. LECO will train all female engineers (6) on general electric work at LECO training center.
Please see here for more details.
|
|
|
WePOWER Pillars & Activities
|
|
|
|
|
This newsletter provides a quick snapshot of the activities by our key partners under the WePOWER’s Five Pillars.
|
|
|
Outreach Programs for Girl Students
Sep 5, 2020 | Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, India
Tata Power-DDL reached out to 225 girl students in government schools in North Delhi. The goal was to inspire female students to apply in technical professions by making them aware about the immense opportunities available in the power and energy sector.
For details, please contact Milli Sharma.
|
|
Girls Technical Field Trip
Nov 20, 2020 | Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Pakistan
WAPDA Girls High School, Chashma organized a field trip to “Chashma Hydropower Station,” for 80 female students of class 10th. The focus of this trip was to study the functioning of Hydropower electricity generation, its capacity, and distribution. WAPDA engineers explained the whole process, shared the facts with the students, and encouraged them to pursue STEM education and careers in the power sector.
For details, please contact Fizza Mumtaz.
|
|
|
|
Outreach Program
Nov 20, 2020 | Basochhu Hydropower Plant (BHG),
Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC), Bhutan
The women employees from BHP visited 125 female students of Gaselo Higher Secondary School, located in Wangdue Phodrang District of Bhutan. They gave a presentation on the business operation of DGPC, BHP Plant profile, and shared their experiences working for DGPC, including on technical field-based work. The team also provided an overview of WePOWER. For details, contact Sonam Yangchen.
|
|
|
|
STEM Forward - Mega Online Job Fair
Nov 20-21, 2020 | Women Engineers Pakistan (WEP) and Women in Energy (WIE), Pakistan
The first of its kind virtual job fair in Pakistan, STEM Forward 2020 covered Science, Technology, Engineering, and Energy sectors. The event created a platform for 1,400+ “candidates” and more than 60 prospective employers to connect and network. Almost half of the participants (528 out of 1,400) were female graduates and professionals. WePOWER Partners such as K-Electric and WAPDA were significant enablers in achieving the success of this event. More details: https://www.stemforward2020.com/ .
For details, contact Ramla Qureshi and Nameerah Hameed.
|
|
|
BPC Hired 12 New Female Technicians
Dec 20, 2020 | Bhutan Power Corporation Limited (BPC), Bhutan
BPC recently hired 12 female technicians (out of 49). It is noteworthy that the top testing candidate was an eight-month pregnant woman. After joining for a few days, she has been granted maternity leave for 6 months with full benefits. This demonstrated BPC’s commitment towards hiring a competent person who has the requisite skills and knowledge to contribute to the company in long term. For queries, contact Kinley Wangmo.
|
|
WAPDA Hired 31 Female Officers
Dec 2020 | Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Pakistan
WAPDA’s leadership is committed to hiring more women in technical and leadership roles. This year, WAPDA hired 30 women: 5 females in civil engineering, 8 female engineers in electric/mechanic/electronics engineering, 5 female officers in Accounts & Finance, one in Administration, and hired 12 females in WAPDA Hospitals. For more details, contact Fizza Mumtaz.
|
|
|
Female Apprenticeship Program
Sep 2020 - till date | Karachi Electric (KE), Pakistan
Around 25 female engineers directly benefited from KE's Female Apprenticeship Program. This program aims to empower women and provide them with the right technical exposure. It is intended to promote STEM education and increase women's visibility in KE by inducting around 20 to 25 DAE qualified females to enhancing their technical and personal development through a formal training plan. The project is currently on-going. For details, contact Faiza Savul.
|
|
|
Online Capacity Building Training on Renewable Energy Technologies
Nov 29, 2020 | Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh
Bangladesh Korea Technical Training Center (BKTTC) is one of the most reputed technical training institutes in Bangladesh. Experts from Grameen Shakti held a webinar for 15 female students, who received insights on renewable energy and career opportunity in the sector.
For details, contact Sohel Ahmed.
|
|
|
|
Leadership Development Program
Nov 19-23, 2020 | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Bangladesh
BREB organized a five day program for 10 female employees. The program included 20 sessions on leadership, values of ethics, critical thinking and emotional intelligence amongst others. Trainers included a professor from Dhaka university and higher management of BREB and Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS). For details, please contact Ivy Nahar Tisha.
|
|
Work from Home Career Growth Plan
May 1, 2020 – to date | Feedback Energy Distribution Company Ltd. (FEDCO), India
To protect its employees from COVID-19 and to help its team navigate this "new normal" of working from home, FEDCO gathered 50 women employees on a video conference. Chaired by Devtosh Chaturvedi-CEO FEDCO, the discussion focused on how the women employees are coping during this crisis and what support they need to advance their careers. For queries, please contact Sandeep Panigrahy.
|
|
Technology and Self Awareness Training
March-Dec 2020 | Bhutan Power Corporation Limited (BPC), Bhutan
The Director of Innovation and Technology Department from Druk Holding and Investment shared insights on the changing nature of technology and how it will change the competency requirement and working styles of the employees. BPC's 40 female employees benefitted from this discussion. For details, contact Kinley Wangmo.
|
|
|
|
Medical Consultancy Over Phone
March 27, 2020 – to date | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Bangladesh
BREB provides medical consultancy to all of its female employees over phone. This helped the employees who were affected by the COVID-19 this year. This service is available for all BREB & PBS Employees. The medical officers from BREB walked their employees through the do’s & don’ts of the COVID-19 treatment.
For queries, please contact Ivy Nahar Tisha.
|
|
|
|
|
Online Pregnancy Wellness Program
Nov 2020 | Karachi Electric (KE), Pakistan
KE recently launched the Pregnancy wellness program, designed to support and encourage the wellbeing of all of its female employees. The online learning module promotes healthy pregnancies while making efforts to boost vitality through prenatal nutrition, maternal and child health care. The module also provided training for managers on how to extend emotional and reorientation support to returning mothers. For details, contact Faiza Savul.
|
|
|
Returning Mothers Workshop
Nov 21, 2020 | IEEE WIE, India
This year, the Madras Section Women in Engineering hosted the Second Returning Mothers Panel Discussion. The participants learned from the experiences of successful returning mothers who re-entered workforce after career break. This session aimed to pave the way for the new returning mothers who want to re-launch their careers and need support. For details, contact Dr. Ramalatha Marimuthu.
|
|
International Leadership Summit (ILS)
Dec 5, 6, 12, 13, 2020 | IEEE WIE, India
As part of the ILS Summit, WePOWER helped organize a Panel Discussion on Social Entrepreneurship for Women. The session brought together a renowned group of experts and practitioners to ignite women-led social enterprise. The panelists shared their insights about starting social ventures, and how to navigate obstacles and leverage opportunities towards impacting social change, especially as women entrepreneurs and returning mothers.
|
|
|
Pillar 5: Policy and Institutional Change
|
|
|
|
Professional Development Webinar Series & New Report on Gender (COVID Edition)
April-Dec 2020 | Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), India
EESL organized a series of webinars for its female employees on diverse topics like mental well-being and stress management, self-awareness at work and operational excellence amongst others. EESL also launched a new Gender Report (COVID edition) on Dec 21, 2020. Read the report here.
For details, contact Pragya Gupta.
|
|
|
Sexual Harassment Complaint Committee
April 2020 | Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Bangladesh
To facilitate its female employees, BREB has arranged a sexual harassment complaint box in every PBS. Employees are encouraged to file their complaint through this box. All employees are aware that in case any harassment happens, BREB will fully support its employees. For details, please contact Ivy Nahar Tisha.
|
|
|
|
|
Fifth WePOWER Steering Committee Meeting
Dec 17, 2020 | Virtual
The WePOWER Interim-Secretariat organized the fifth Steering Committee (SC) meeting. The SC was informed that the World Bank’s Management has authorized the South Asia Gender and Energy Facility II, which reaffirmed the WB’s full commitment to WePOWER. The Secretariat endorsed including the endorsement of MoU between IEEE WIE and WePOWER. Other important topics discussed included: how to improve the WePOWER monitoring and reporting process, and guidance for induction of new partners. The SC was also consulted on the creation of the new WePOWER Technical Advisory Committee. The session featured technical presentations about Gender and Diversity Literature and implementing PMS (performance management systems) that help utilities achieve their diversity and inclusion goals. For details, please contact Gunjan Gautam.
|
|
|
C3E Announces Nominations for the 10th Annual Women in Clean Energy Awards
Feb 25, 2021
The U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) initiative has announced the 10th Annual C3E Awards nomination kickoff. The C3E Awards recognize the outstanding leadership and accomplishments of mid-career women working in clean energy. The deadline to submit nominations is February 25.
|
|
|
Blogs, Research and Campaigns
|
|
|
Blogs
Research
Campaigns
Returning Mothers Campaign: Share your insights on how your respective organization supported you in returning to the workforce after maternity leave and made your transition back to work easy?
Based on the narratives and lessons learned, we will develop a “Returning Mothers Activity Module” for utilities to start their Returning Mothers initiatives. See testimonial from successful returning mothers on WePOWER's new Instagram Channel and look out for more!
|
|
|
Faiza Savul
Head of Center of Expertise, Human Resources
K-Electric Limited, Pakistan
Watch Video
|
|
Maria Beatriz Orlando
Lead, Social Development Specialist
World Bank
Watch Video
|
|
|
Anvesha Khandelwal Punjani
Head, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
British Council, India
Watch Video
|
|
Mani Khurana
Senior Energy Specialist,
World Bank
Watch Video
|
|
STEM Forward 2020 Job Fair (Nov 2020, Pakistan): World Bank Pakistan Operations Manager, Melinda Good shares an uplifting message about women and girls entering the technical professions.
"I am thrilled that WePOWER is continuing to do this work even through the crisis. It is very clear to me that young women entering the workforce hold the future of this country in their hands."
Watch Melinda's full video message here.
|
|
|
|
With 2020 coming to a close, we send our heartfelt wishes to our partners and colleagues who stayed relentless throughout this tough year. We would also like to acknowledge all the women, men, and students who organized, volunteered, and participated in the many gender activities this year, despite the increasing challenges posed by the pandemic. Thanks for all your support.
WePOWER has not been just able to grow, but flourish.
Cheers to a Prosperous and Healthy 2021!
|
|
|
Get Involved! Contact us at tsaifey@worldbank.org
WePOWER is a joint initiative by the World Bank’s South Asia Energy and Social Development units under the South Asia Gender and Energy (SAGE) Facility
The WePOWER Network extends special gratitude to all of our Strategic and Institutional Partners for their commitment and zeal to address women's employment issues in the energy sector for women in South Asia.
|
|
|
|
