18 December 2024
Inclusion of gender and sustainability in the palm sector
Between December 2023 and July 2024, Proforest developed a pilot project aimed at advising suppliers in Cargill's supply chain on the implementation of actions to promote gender equity in their operations, thus contributing to the achievement of sustainability goals.
The objective of the project was to design and implement a specialized training program on gender equity in the palm sector, aimed at strengthening companies' capacities to develop and execute action plans in this area. Additionally, the project sought to gather insights, share tools, and promote the creation of gender-focused action plans to be applied in agro-industrial activities.
During this phase, the project collaborated with business groups in Guatemala and Colombia, engaging key companies in the sector, including Palmas del Cesar and Bioplanta in Colombia, as well as Grupo Hame and NaturAceites in Guatemala.
As one of the first participatory programs focused on gender issues specifically tailored to the palm sector, this initiative is fundamental for the industry. It expands perspectives on the challenges and business needs related to social issues within supply chains. Moreover, advancing actions in this area is crucial for meeting sustainability commitments, upholding human rights, and fostering best practices aligned with global agribusiness standards.
Throughout the program, participating companies were provided with knowledge and tools to adopt gender equity practices and policies, driving the transformation toward inclusive work environments that respect and value the rights and contributions of all individuals.
Project development:
A training program was designed and implemented using a participatory approach, involving sector stakeholders and participating companies to identify their specific training needs and priorities. The program aimed to raise awareness and enhance understanding of gender equity in the workplace. Furthermore, practical support was provided to each company to help them develop and implement tailored action plans, ensuring the effective execution of concrete gender equity measures.
Six modules were developed, covering essential principles of gender analysis and equity, along with business considerations tied to both global and local regulations. As part of the support, each company participated in four personalized counseling
sessions, where they received guidance on formulating their action plans, addressed specific questions, and delved deeper into the topics covered in the training modules.
Results obtained:
- Training in gender-related topics was provided to participants, 70% of whom had never received any prior education on gender issues.
- Development of an action plan with implementation commitments tailored to each of the four participating companies.
- Integration of the tools and methodologies into the participating companies.
During the program, the companies highlighted the relevance and usefulness of incorporating the gender mainstreaming approach into their organizations' sustainability strategies.
Yesterday we had our first strategic planning session in which we used as a basis everything we learned in the course and your feedback to rethink the objective of the Group's Gender Program and the axes of work. Their support has been super valuable to strengthen what we do.
Thank you very much, it was very gratifying to participate in the pilot program, I learned a lot and it was a very enriching experience, the best thing is that everything I learned I can replicate it in the company.
Future plans for the project:
Each participating company developed an action plan with short-, medium-, and long-term activities aimed at strengthening its internal gender processes and relationships with stakeholders. The companies and their implementing partners will collaborate to continuously monitor these processes, fostering the sector's leadership in gender equity issues.