New transport initiative will empower 1 000 women

Why target women?

But why target women? Shouldn’t men be empowered too? The reality is that the transport industry is sorely lacking in members of the fairer sex – not just here in South Africa but all over the world. Even in the United States, where there are around 245 000 women on the road, the barriers to entry for members of the fairer sex are high. Women drivers in that country complain about sexism within the profession – and then there is the reality that comes with being a long-distance truck driver: it means that you spend most of your life on the road and little time at home with your loved ones.

This situation isn’t great, as Kevin Sturr, acting mission director: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Southern Africa, noted at the launch of the new transport initiative. “This is an industry that has seen far too few women join it in the past. We want all women to reach their full economic potential. When women are given proper resources, education and training, they can achieve anything,” he noted.

“When women do better, countries do better”

According to Sturr, there are many benefits to bringing women into the transport industry. “When women are empowered economically, they invest in their families and communities. Women are a valuable asset; that is clear. No country can succeed if it excludes the talents and voices of half its population. When women do better, countries do better,” he pointed out.

He even went so far as to say that, if the same number of women played a role in the economy as the number of men, global GDP would grow by an estimated US$12 trillion by 2025.

Nicci Scott, founder of the CTA, concurs. “Women make up less than 1% of the workforce in South Africa’s transport sector. We need more women in the transport industry. We know that, when women are developed and have access to equal pay, it gives rise to a certain freedom,” she pointed out at the launch.

Enter the transport initiative

Given this situation, the US government – through USAID – is supporting the Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative. It will see 120 female professionals, 300 entrepreneurs, and 495 truck drivers being trained and mentored over a three-year period.

The initiative is made up of three structured programmes: CTA Excellence, Run With It and Iron Women.

CTA Excellence

Aimed at aspiring female professionals, this programme is being run in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). It has come up with a training programme that will help women to improve their knowledge, learn new skills, and advance their management and leadership abilities. Successful learners will be awarded the CILT International Diploma in Logistics and Transport.

Run With It

Run With It is aimed at female entrepreneurs – and it will be available to women who own or operate businesses in the transport industry and transport business-related services. This is an eight-month-long programme and involves both technical and personal mentoring, enabling women to develop a growth mindset, execute on their business ideas and gain access to market networks.

Iron Women

This programme aims to upskill individuals who aspire to be truck drivers, but who do not have access to the financial resources needed to acquire a commercial truck driver’s licence. It also assists new and existing drivers who lack the driving skills to gain confidence and secure employment – because it provides them with advanced driver training.

Massive industry support

There is already massive industry support for the Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative. In addition to USAID, the programme is being supported by Hollard, Volvo, Iron Women, Highway Heroes, Ctrack, Standard Bank, Onelogix/Trucklogix and Afrit.

Industry associations such as Truckers for Unity South Africa, the SA Express Parcel Association and the Road Freight Association (RFA) have also thrown their weight behind the initiative.

Gavin Kelly, CEO of the RFA, also spoke at the launch of the initiative and he pointed out that, given the backdrop of what has happened in our country in terms of the protests, we need to be mindful of the fact that transport is the glue that keeps our daily lives going. “When it goes well, we don’t see it. It happens in the background. When it goes wrong, it impacts our lives and makes us feel impotent,” he noted.

Kelly said it was “fantastic” that women will be part of the future of transport in South Africa. “None of us would have achieved what we’ve done without strong supportive and dedicated women holding our hands. Having women in transport should be a natural process; it should not be a fight,” he pointed out.

Maybe in the future, thanks to the Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport initiative, it won’t be.

 

Photographs by Kelly Sikkema and Milan Popovic on Unsplash