Access to the labour market is one of the main barriers to women’s social integration and economic empowerment: globally, only 47% of women achieve this, compared with 72% of men (International Labour Organisation).
Transforming what is learnt on training courses into skills sought after in the labour market is essential, but it is not enough. For women to be able to truly seize career opportunities, an environment conducive to their entry into the labour market must be created: women with greater self-confidence and employability, a supportive social circle, and committed public and private sector stakeholders. 

Engaging the support network of young women to strengthen their ability to choose their career path

Young women often choose career paths with limited prospects, either because they lack awareness of economic opportunities or because they are influenced by restrictive social norms that hold them back. The IECD promotes informed career guidance that is open to the jobs of the future and supported by the family and community environment. In the Central African Republic, 270 young women are being supported in developing a career plan of their own choosing. Parents and traditional leaders, who play a key role in shaping local social norms, are involved through dedicated workshops designed to encourage their support for integration pathways.

Strengthening skills and empowerment to secure entry into employment or entrepreneurship

Upon completion of their training, young women face greater difficulties in securing their first stable job. The IECD supports them in giving themselves every chance of success, through dedicated support programmes. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the IECD, with the support of a local partner, has set up a socio-professional integration unit. This initiative combines training in digital tools, workshops on job-seeking techniques, coaching to boost self-confidence, and networking with the private sector.

Working hand in hand with employers to secure women’s career pathways

Work placements and work-study schemes play a vital role in the development of professional skills: they enable young people to acquire technical skills and familiarise themselves with the world of work. The IECD works to ensure that young people women equal access to these opportunities, including in sectors traditionally dominated by men. The IECD works with employers to ensure a safe work placement environment, by implementing training initiatives aimed at integrating women into certain sectors and preventing discrimination. Thanks to these initiatives, all female trainees involved in electrical training projects in Egypt, for example, have been able to complete a work placement.