Today Marks Launch of 7th Session Human Resources, Gender Academy

Today (Jan. 7) marks the launch of the seventh session of the Human Resources and Gender Academy, as part of the International Labour Organization's project: Egypt Youth Employment (EYE): Economic Empowerment under the Framework of the National “FORSA” Program. 

The project is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and funded by the Norwegian government. The project’s objective is to provide social, economic, and incentive services to the most economically disadvantaged families in Egypt, from the beneficiaries of the "Takaful & Karama" program in the governorates of Sharqia and Asyut.

The "EYE - FORSA" project is based on the theory of change, focusing particularly on increasing youth access to wage employment.

 The project's activities within the work component for non-employed individuals include several initiatives aimed at employing and economically empowering job seekers. 

These activities firstly include; Enhancing youth skills for job searching through job search clubs. Secondly, improving the matching process between supply and demand in the labor market through job fairs. Thirdly, providing employment opportunities for job seekers through the "Training for Employment" program. 

Fourthly, improving the work conditions and reducing labor turnover through training courses provided by the "Human Resources and Gender Academy" for human resources personnel in the private sector, in collaboration with the ‘Business Development Services Center’ and the ‘Women at Work’unit at the Federation of Egyptian Industries.

The seventh session of the ‘Human Resources and Gender Academy’ was inaugurated today in the presence of Mr.Eric Oechslin, Director of the International Labour Organization Office in Cairo, and Dr. Adel Nour El-Din, Director of the Business Development Services Center and General Coordinator of the branches of the Federation of the Egyptian Industries. 

The sessions will take place during the first quarter of 2024, over 10 working days across two separate weeks (January 14-18 and February 4-8, 2024) in the city of Ain Al Sokhna.

The initiative of the"Human Resources and Gender Academy" responds to the urgent needs of medium and large enterprises in Egypt. The academy aims to enhance the capabilities of enterprises in dealing with human resources in a professional, creative, and proactive manner. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness of labor laws, promote social dialogue, and enhance gender equality. 

The target audience for these sessions is the human resources managers from medium and large private sector companies participating with the "EYE - FORSA" project in the governorates of Sharqia and Asyut.

Over the course of the sessions, important topics in the field of human resources and gender equality will be discussed, including Human Resource Management (appointment and job analysis, workforce planning and recruitment, employee testing and selection, etc.), Gender Equality (equal rights, international labor standards, dealing with violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, etc.), and Legal Affairs (types of contracts and termination of employment, dispute resolution, legal obligations, and occupational health and safety, etc.). 

The sessions will be delivered by a group of experts in the fields of human resources, law, and gender equality, all of whom are high-level academics from Egyptian universities or international experts in their respective fields.

In the opening session, Mr. Eric Oechslin, Director of the International Labour Organization Office in Cairo, stated, "The launch of the Human Resources and Gender Academy reflects a strong commitment to promoting the concept of equality in the labor market and developing human resource policies in line with new developments which aligns with the current and future needs of the labor market in Egypt." 

Oechslin continued: "By raising awareness of human resource policies and gender equality issues and providing support to companies in addressing growing challenges, the academy plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability and economic development in Egypt.”

It is worth mentioning that since its launch in 2017, the HR and Gender Academy has organized six training sessions, attended by hundreds of human resources officials from various Egyptian governorates. Following the outstanding success of the previous sessions, future plans include expanding the academy's impact and offering additional courses in diverse regions in Egypt to meet broader needs.