Women in Construction

The Women in Construction project, spanning 2002 - 2004 has a goal to improve women’s livelihoods through their active participation in the construction industry. The purpose of the project is to address women’s traditional marginal role in the construction sector through encouraging women’s active participation. The project locations are Chitungwiza, Marondera, Norton and Rusape. Networking has also been initiated with individuals/groups in Epworth, Mutare and Kariba.

The project is using the following development approaches to achieve its objectives:

• Gathering and dissemination of baseline information;
• Supporting women’s existing enterprises as well as establishing new ones;
• Training and advisory support for women in relevant technical and business skills;
• Developing gender sensitive training modules and materials;
• Train the trainers;
• Developing appropriate construction technologies to suit women’s needs; and
• Advocating and lobbying for space for women in the construction sector.

Several activities designed to realise the above outputs include the following:

• Baseline study and training needs analysis;
• Formation of beneficiary initiated networks;
• Institutional survey;
• Project sites selection;
• Development of training modules and materials;
• Training and advisory support for women;
• Exchange visits;
• Training of trainers;
• Participatory development, modification and testing of technologies;
• Networking; and
• Advocacy and lobbying.

Milestones to date include the following:

• Baseline survey report produced for Chitungwiza and Marondera
• Eight construction materials enterprises established included: TABECC, SEBAME, Kushinga, Women in Power, P & T Tiling in Chitungwiza, one brick moulding and one concrete wall manufacturer in Norton, Mapira painting in Rusape
• Four enterprises strengthened - Marlove Enterprise in Rusape, one electrical installation business in Marondera, Phyltech which manufactures fibreglass bathroom sets and concrete sinks in Marondera
• Technological adaptations to make brick presses and moulds user friendly to women
• 350 women trained in micro concrete roof tile production, soil stabilised blocks production, floor and wall tile laying, training for transformation and business management
• 17 trainers from national training institutions underwent gender sensitisation
• TOT gender sensitive manuals and handbook developed
• Gender sensitive curriculum for use by women in construction under development

Some of ITDGPractical Action Southern Africa’s partners in the WIC project include women’s groups in Chitungwiza and individual women’s enterprises in Epworth, Marondera, Norton and Rusape. Women’s and other relevant organisations are also partners in the various activities. The project is funded by NOVIB of the Netherlands.

Further information

Articles and updates on the Women in Construction project can be found in ITDGPractical Action Southern Africa's Appropriate Initiatives newsletter: Women make a break-through into the construction industry Construction has been seen through the eyes of men. It is men who dig the trenches, mix the mortar and do the actual building of the structure. Well, not according to a strong willed community of women in Chitungwiza and Epworth who are working with ITDGPractical Action Southern Africa ... A landmark victory for Women in Construction 27 February 2004: Thirty women working with ITDGPractical Action Southern Africa's Women in Construction Project in Rusape, Marondera, Chitungwiza, Norton and Bulawayo together with other women in the construction sector, converged at the ZESA Technology Centre in Harare. They formed the Zimbabwe Women in Construction Association (ZWICA), the first ever in the history of Zimbabwe ...

Further information and progress reports:

• Advocacy activities in partnership with ZWRCN
• Workshop for newly elected Chitungwiza Councilors
• Information-sharing workshop for construction industry players
• Internal information-sharing within ITDGPractical Action's Infrastructure department
• Consultative process towards the establishment of the Association for Women in Construction