The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) identified gender equality as a core aspect of inclusive growth in its Ten Year Strategy, and in January 2014 launched its “Gender Strategy (2014-2018): Investing in Gender Equality for Africa’s Transformation”.

In line with this strategic approach, the AfDB is sponsoring the upcoming fifth Infrastructure Africa Summit.

This two-day June conference and exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa, provides African companies with the platform to focus on the continent’s growth hotspots, discuss infrastructure trends, meet project developers and relevant government authorities, whilst exploring infrastructure business opportunities.

Infrastructure Africa 2016 will also host the inaugural Africa Inclusive Infrastructure Forum (AIIF) from the 9 – 10 June 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

This stream will address the question of how to strengthen women’s economic inclusivity in African Infrastructure as a strategy to boost growth and ensure its sustainability.

“Although, we have always designed projects with users in mind, it is only now that we are re-focusing our approach to understand the different needs that women have, stemming from cultural pressure, gender role norms, resources and rights.

“The Africa Inclusive Infrastructure Forum will help us to systematically examine how we involve women in transport projects at all levels,” says Michelle Tutt, Senior Transport Engineer, AfDB.

“It’s crucial to implement a gender mainstreamed approach at the project level, but also in our national strategic plans, sensitising our politicians and governments.

“Africa will benefit exponentially when women are no longer seen as passive beneficiaries but are integrated into every phase of infrastructure roll out including design phase, capacity building, and forming part of transport programme teams as contractors, engineers and decision-makers.”