The event will be followed by the piloting of a “Women in Leadership” training program for select EVN staff, to take place from October 9 to October 13, 2017.

“EVN is committed to promoting gender equality in its operations, and providing a working environment that is beneficial and rewarding for female and male employees alike,” said Khuat Quang Mau, Chairman of the Trade Union of EVN.

“By increasing its focus on gender equality, EVN will be better placed to successfully meet its goals for productivity, skills and customer service, by ensuring that all employees, regardless of gender, can develop their talents and operate to the best of their abilities,” Mau noted.

One of the main activities under the joint EVN/WB project is the launch of a new leadership programme for women, designed to enhance women’s capacity to advance into senior management positions and to increase overall numbers of women in management.

This new programme will support EVN’s capacity to reach one of the primary goals outlined in the Gender Actions Plan (GAP) in order to increase the share of women promoted to management level from 12.7% in 2015 to 14.5% in 2020.

“The World Bank commends EVN for their proactive efforts to reach their GAP targets. We welcome the opportunity to provide practical advice on how to achieve this, based on the international experience of what works,” said Achim Fock, Portfolio and Operations Manager of the World Bank in Vietnam.

This will not only create a more inclusive environment for EVN’s workforce, but it can also bring organizational benefits for EVN that will contribute to establishing a more resilient and sustainable power sector in Vietnam”, Achim Fock added.

EVN and WB are also considering further joint activities to support the implementation of EVN’s Gender Action Plan, including adjustments to human resource management procedures to ensure that women are always included on the list of candidates considered for recruitment and promotion.

The event provided a platform for EVN to learn from international best practice on gender equality in the energy sector.

World Bank/VOV