Empowering Women in Lebanon's Industrial Sector
Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) launches women's task force with ILO support
8 March 2024
The Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) celebrated International Women's Day by hosting a roundtable discussion in collaboration with the Center for Women in Business at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the ILO Office for the Arab States. The event highlighted ALI's commitment to gender equality and increasing the number of women in leadership positions in Lebanon's industrial sector. Attendees included female entrepreneurs, members of academia and diplomatic representatives, who discussed women's key role in economic growth and the barriers they face in accessing leadership positions.
Dr Nada Khaddaj Sobh and Mr Talal Hijazi opened the event, outlining ALI's efforts to promote women in management through initiatives such as the ILO's WIM-IN project. ALI conducted a survey among its members in 2023 to assess the situation and challenges faced by women in advancing their careers. This led to the creation of a Women's Task Force within ALI, tasked with reviewing organisational structures and operational documents to implement gender-sensitive policies, such as revising membership criteria and supporting women for board positions.
The discussion included insights from Ms Melissa Bader on gender on main developments of the gender mapping concluded among ALI members and Mr José Manuel Medina on global progress in gender diversity, highlighting the benefits of gender-sensitive policies for companies worldwide. The session concluded with a dialogue between women entrepreneurs, moderated by Mr Medina Checa.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of the goals of the Women's Task Force and a two-year action plan to increase the representation of women within ALI and in board positions. This commitment underscores ALI's collaboration with the ILO to empower women in Lebanon's industrial sector and emphasises their commitment to success and effectiveness.
Dr Nada Khaddaj Sobh and Mr Talal Hijazi opened the event, outlining ALI's efforts to promote women in management through initiatives such as the ILO's WIM-IN project. ALI conducted a survey among its members in 2023 to assess the situation and challenges faced by women in advancing their careers. This led to the creation of a Women's Task Force within ALI, tasked with reviewing organisational structures and operational documents to implement gender-sensitive policies, such as revising membership criteria and supporting women for board positions.
The discussion included insights from Ms Melissa Bader on gender on main developments of the gender mapping concluded among ALI members and Mr José Manuel Medina on global progress in gender diversity, highlighting the benefits of gender-sensitive policies for companies worldwide. The session concluded with a dialogue between women entrepreneurs, moderated by Mr Medina Checa.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of the goals of the Women's Task Force and a two-year action plan to increase the representation of women within ALI and in board positions. This commitment underscores ALI's collaboration with the ILO to empower women in Lebanon's industrial sector and emphasises their commitment to success and effectiveness.