As Women’s Month draws to a close, Solidaridad Southern Africa is reaffirming its commitment to empowering women throughout the Southern African region. In a significant stride towards promoting gender equality and combating sexual harassment in Malawi’s tea sector, a groundbreaking gender policy has been launched with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other partners.
“This policy marks a transformative moment in the industry, aiming to create safer and more equitable workplaces for all tea sector employees,” says Precious Greehy, Head of Gender and Youth at Solidaridad.
The initiative comes amidst growing recognition of the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in agricultural sectors globally, including tea farming in Malawi. The new gender policy is designed not only to address existing challenges but also to prevent future instances through proactive measures and advocacy.
Central to the policy’s implementation is the gender champions, trained extensively to serve as advocates and catalysts for change within their respective tea estates. These champions, carefully selected from diverse backgrounds within the sector, are tasked with promoting awareness, fostering dialogue, and ensuring the effective implementation of gender-sensitive practices.
“The role of gender champions is crucial in driving forward our commitment to creating inclusive and respectful workplaces,” says Nozipho Ndlovu, Regional Programme Manager for Solidaridad. “They are pivotal in advocating for gender equality, offering support to victims, and holding perpetrators accountable.”
A cornerstone of this initiative is the development and dissemination of an anti-sexual harassment training manual. This comprehensive resource provides practical guidance on identifying, reporting, and addressing incidents of sexual harassment. It aims not only to empower employees with knowledge and confidence but also to cultivate a culture of zero tolerance towards harassment.
“Beyond immediate impacts, stakeholders envision the Malawi tea sector’s gender policy and associated initiatives as an example of best practice,” continues Ndlovu. “It sets a precedent for other agricultural sectors to follow, demonstrating how proactive gender policies can effectively combat workplace inequalities and foster a more inclusive industry.”
This initiative underscores Malawi’s commitment to sustainable development goals and serves as a testament to the power of collective action in creating lasting social change. It is also an example of how Solidaridad strives to contribute to an enabling policy environment and empower civil society to be involved in decision-making for sustainable supply chains.
“The training manual represents a significant step towards fostering a workplace environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued,” concludes Greehy. “By equipping employees with the tools to recognize and respond to sexual harassment, we aim to create lasting change that permeates throughout the entire tea sector.”