Mar 30, 2024
About RISE:
It is estimated that 75 percent of the 60 million garment workers are women who may experience gender inequality, and instances of harassment or violence at work, among other systemic barriers to empowerment and gender equity (source: the ILO). The COVID-19 pandemic and an increasingly difficult financial environment add to mounting pressure on women workers. BSR’s HERproject, Gap Inc., P.A.C.E, CARE, and Better Work have come together to form a new initiative called RISE: Reimagining Industry to Support Equality in order to scale impact and accelerate equality for women workers in global garment, footwear, and Home furnishings supply chains.
RISE will pursue its mission through three core strategies:
(1) strengthening knowledge and skills for factory workers and managers,
(2) transforming business practices to include gender equality, and
(3) influencing public policy and other key actors.
RISE’s capacity-building workplace programs aim to increase women workers’ dignity and equality in the workplace, by changing both behaviors and systems. The programs expand women workers’ choices and their ability and confidence to pursue their rights and opportunities. The training also engages male managers and coworkers to challenge social norms in the workplace. Program topics range from life skills such as communication and problem-solving, general and reproductive health, financial health and security, freedom from sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and women’s advancement and leadership.
RISE goes beyond workplace programs to bring positive change to the whole industry and influence policy improvements. It includes workers’ voices and representation at every level from governance to project implementation, ensuring that the work responds to women workers’ needs and priorities. RISE has broad stakeholder involvement in its governance: brands, suppliers, labor organizations and unions, and women’s movements. Brands, buyers, and suppliers can become a member of RISE and invest in a workplace program in their garment supply chain. Programs are currently operating in Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Egypt and Pakistan. A unified approach will make it easier and more efficient for the industry and wider stakeholders to drive an accelerated and lasting impact on gender equality. It will also improve efficiency through the coordination of activities, a shared data system, and eliminating duplication. The four founding partner organizations already work with 50 of the world’s largest apparel,
footwear and home furnishings brands and have reached more than five million women workers globally. The ambition is to increase this to up to 20 million workers over the next decade.
The assignment at hand involves NRT’s participation in the implementation of the RISE Respect program in Bangladesh. RISE Respect is a comprehensive initiative that focuses on preventing and remediating Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) within the garment supply chain. The program is designed to create a more harmonious and equitable work environment for female and male workers, with the ultimate goal of preventing violence and harassment in the workplace and intimate relationships.
The RISE Respect program is structured around three primary workstreams:
- Capacity Strengthening: This component involves conducting training sessions for women and men workers and managers within garment factories. The sessions are designed to build an understanding of gender issues, social norms, communication, types of violence, and how to prevent and address GBVH. These training sessions aim to reach 3-5% of female and male workers and 10% of supervisors. Joint sessions between workers and managers are also conducted to facilitate dialogue, develop a shared language on GBVH, and create mutually agreed strategies for prevention and remediation.
- Market Transformation: RISE Respect seeks to engage industry actors, including brands, suppliers, and worker representatives, to enhance operating practices at all levels of global value chains. This is done to support greater gender equality outcomes.
- Influencing: This component aims to align with existing legal frameworks and generate new evidence to inform progressive public policies on tackling GBVH. It also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that women workers’ voices are heard.
The assignment tasks NRT with delivering the RISE Respect program in garment factories in Bangladesh, adhering to the RISE curriculum and program design. The program encompasses several elements, including capacity-strengthening sessions, joint sessions, policy and system strengthening, awareness campaigns, surveys, and the distribution of informational materials. (more…)
Oct 7, 2023
The ILO proposed an extension of the IA with NRT until 15 March 2023, based on the successful deliveries and in order to design and facilitate the gender equality-related capacity-building activities for the tripartite constituents. As an implementing partner, NRT has been successful in finishing the scheduled tasks on time to develop two Training of Trainers (ToT) modules and other associated handouts on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills” for 5-day TOT sessions for Employers’ Trainers and for Trade Union’ Trainers correspondingly (in conjunction with ILO), schedule and organize two (02) batches of 5-days Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for trade union and employers’ trainers on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills”, develop training module and other associated handouts for 4-day training sessions for DoL trainers on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills”, schedule and organize 4-days training sessions for DoL trainers on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills”, delivery of the technical progress report for the time frame of 08 December 2022 to 15 March 2023.
Thereafter, the ILO proposed 2nd extension of the IA with NRT until 15 May 2023 to schedule and organize 3-day refresher training on Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace” for Trade union Trainers.
As per the TOR of the total period of IA, NRT has performed the following deliverables:
- Finalized ten (10) venue nationwide for conducting the day-long workshop on “Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace” (In consultation with ILO and DoL).
- Developed a Training of Trainers (ToT) module and other related handouts on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills” for 5-day TOT sessions for Employers’ Trainers (in consultation with ILO).
- Developed a Training of Trainers (ToT) module and other related handouts on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills” for 5-day TOT sessions for Trade union’ Trainers (in consultation with ILO).
- Scheduled and organize two (02) batches of 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for trade union and employers’ trainers on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills” (in consultation with ILO).
- Scheduled and organize 4-day training sessions for DoL trainers on “Gender-sensitive facilitation skills”.
- Developed a 3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) module and other related training material for trade union master trainers on “Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace”
- Scheduled and organize 3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) on Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace” for Trade Union Trainers (in consultation with ILO).
- Submitted the activity plan for the deliverables.
- Submitted final technical and financial progress report and IA closure.
Activity completed during the reporting period
- After consulting with ILO, NRT settled on the dates and venues for the two (02) batches of 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for trade union and employers’ trainers on “Gender-sensitive facilitation
“Gender-sensitive facilitation skills” for 5-day TOT sessions for Employers’ Trainers
skills”, 4-day training sessions for DoL trainers on “Gender sensitive facilitation skills” and the 3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) on “Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace” indicated above, interacted with the corresponding master trainers, and successfully completed the above mentioned events.
- During the months of December 2022 and January 2023, NRT developed two Training of Trainers (ToT) modules on “Gender Sensitive Facilitation Skills” for 5-day TOT sessions for Employers’ Trainers and Trade Union’s Trainers in consultation with ILO
- The first two (02) batches of the five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions have already been completed in Cox’s Bazar. The first batch of 05 day-long TOT for Employers’ master trainers on “Gender Sensitive Facilitation Skills” was successfully completed from 29 January to 2 February 2023 at Hotel Longbeach (Coxs Bazar), and the second batch of 05 day-long TOT for Trade Union’s master trainers on “Gender Sensitive Facilitation Skills” was successfully completed from 4 to 8 February 2023 at Hotel Sea Palace (Coxs Bazar).
- NRT developed a training module on “Gender Sensitive Facilitation Skills” for 4-day training sessions for DoL Trainers in the months of February and March 2023. In consultation with ILO, NRT organized and successfully carried out 4-day training sessions for DoL Trainers on “Gender-sensitive Facilitation skills” from March 10–13, 2023, at Hotel Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf, Sylhet.
- The 3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) for Trade Union master trainers on “Gender equality and the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace,” NRT developed a 3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) module during the months of March 2023. In consultation with the ILO, NRT organized and successfully completed the 3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) from March 18–20, 2023 at BRAC CDM, Khagan, Birulia, Savar, Dhaka.
- In addition to adhering to the indicators listed here, NRT has also performed as a logistical support provider to organize & support organizing the aforementioned events and go through the interactive processes required for completing the assignment
“Gender-sensitive facilitation skills” for 5-day TOT sessions for Trade Union’ Trainers
– Coordination Meeting with ILO to determine the dates, venue needs, participant requirements, and overall training preparation.
– Coordinate and arrange all logistics-related activities required to set up the training and/or TOT (lodging, food, stationaries training materials).
– Manage the resource persons and organize the training and/or refreshers’ training sessions.
– Purchase and disburse training supplies, stationery, certificates, “Allowance” for each participant, and “Allowance” for the trainer of NRT for the training and/or TOT sessions.
– Provide all the required coordination support to conduct the 02 batches of training and/or TOT sessions.
4-day training sessions for Department of Labour trainers on “Gender-sensitive Facilitation skills
Metrics
- Metrics of the total participants (Female -Male) of the events are given below.
| No. |
Date & Location |
Total No. Participants Trained |
Remarks |
| Female |
Male |
Total |
|
| 1 |
05 day-long Training of trainers (ToT) on ” Gender sensitive facilitation skills ” for Employers’ master trainers
29 January to 2 February 2023,
Cox’s Bazar |
11 |
15 |
26 |
|
| 2 |
05 day-long Training of trainers (ToT) on “Gender sensitive facilitation skills” for Trade Union’s master trainers
4 to 8 February 2023,
Cox’s Bazar |
19 |
5 |
24 |
|
| 3 |
04-day training on Gender sensitive facilitation skills for DoL Officials
10-13 March 2023,
Sreemangal |
06 |
14 |
20 |
|
| 4 |
3-day refresher Training of trainers (ToT) on “Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace” for Trade Union’s master trainers
18-20 March 2023, Savar |
14 |
06 |
20 |
|
3-day refresher training of trainers (ToT) on “Gender equality and elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace”
