UNDP invites nominations from SMEs to acknowledge workplace gender parity

New Delhi, July 8 (KNN) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has invited nominations from Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to acknowledge them for practicing gender equality at workplace.

This is a part of their ‘Women at Work’ initiative to start a dialogue on critical issues surrounding women at the workplace and make a case for a diversified and inclusive workforce, specifically amongst SMEs.

UNDP will identify, acknowledge and felicitate SME Champions who hire, retain, and nurture women in non-conventional roles and break gendered notions of work.

This year-long initiative is supported by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

It aims to raise awareness and SMEs to create a workplace environment that supports hiring, promoting, and retaining female talent.

The campaign will showcase best practices, facilitate knowledge sharing, and celebrate SME role models.

The journey of the selected SMEs will be chronicled and featured in a compendium as India’s SME Champions.

By discussing overarching challenges and opportunities, these stories will highlight key takeaways like the adoption of progressive programmes, best practices, and innovative technologies.

“These success stories and role models will demonstrate how some SMEs and SME associations are breaking gender barriers to support women in non-traditional job roles. We hope that this will inspire and enable other SMEs to create a safe and conducive working environment for women in this space, especially promoting women in leadership and unconventional roles,” said Amit Kumar, Head, Inclusive Growth, UNDP India.

The last date to send nominations is July 31 and interested SMEs can write to ig.coord@undp.org with subject line ‘Women@Work Nomination’.

The nomination must have the contact details of the SME and its top management, a brief backgrounder about the SME and the systemic workplace changes brought about in recent years to create opportunities for women in non-conventional roles and empower them.

Industry associations and chambers can also nominate their member enterprises.  (KNN Bureau)