Strengthening gender equality initiatives through SCORE Gender Equality Model

In 2019, Constructora Colpatria became the first company in Colombia to implement ILO`s SCORE Gender Equality Model (MIG SCORE) with Mónica Cortes Yepes, SCORE Trainer and CEO of EQUILATERA, a SCORE Implementing Partner. The initiative was born as part of the CEOs strategic vision to strengthen the company’s gender policies. By implementing MIG SCORE, a model that focuses on collaboration and participation, Constructora Colpatria achieved significant progress in expanding its gender equality practices, and reaching more of its staff.

Promotion of non-discrimination and the introduction of a blind CV strategy

Among the MIG SCORE's 2019 achievements is the implementation of a blind resume during the selection process, which made Constructora Colpatria the first firm in the Colombian construction sector to adopt this practice. Designed to promote non-discrimination and equality during recruitment, the anonymous curriculum strategy eliminates questions that trigger biases towards potential candidates. Further, the company adopted flexible working arrangements allowing pregnant women to work from home, an innovative action in pre-pandemic times.

In 2020, Constructora Colpatria decided to continue its work on gender equality using MIG SCORE as its strategic tool. For the Human Resource Department, actions to secure equal opportunities and treatment for women and men not only boost business sustainability but also support economic reactivation after COVID-19 lockdowns. The first step was to train 54 leaders of the company in the blind CV. Based on MIG SCORE, the Human Resource team put together a workshop were blind resume strategy was described and explained its relevance and the way in which the company was implementing it. In parallel, the blind CV strategy was implemented in 180 internal selection process.

Analysis of occupational segregation and the involvement of other departments

The Human Resource Department also analyzed the occupational segregation, for both male and female workers. This exercise led the company to define a new strategy: to work with the Housing Department in order to identify the gender biases implicit in staff's occupation. To kick-start this work, the company reached out once again to MIG SCORE Expert Trainer Mónica Cortes Yepes to carry out interview with experienced professionals on inspection and on-site residence.

With the information collected and its subsequent systematization and analysis, Ms Cortes Yepes designed and delivered two workshops for 47 workers. All staff members were part of the La Felicidad project in Bogotá, a sustainable housing initiative with more than 100 hectares of construction. The online training engaged managers and operative personnel including human resources, sale representatives and construction supervisors, residents, and inspectors.

The first workshop strengthened the initiative "Putting on your Gender Glasses at Constructora Colpatria" which focused on teaching the participants the basic concepts of gender equality so that everyone could better understand the connection between gender and business, the importance of gender equality and its impact on the wage gap. The second workshop focused on “Workplace Cooperation with Voice Equality”, a concept developed by MIG SCORE to promote equal opportunities for women and men to express their ideas during business meetings. The aim was to promote awareness of voice equality in different corporate settings.

Learn more about Voice Equality by reading the ILO blog "Beware! Forgers and Helicopters may be damaging your business"

Ever more to support women in the construction sector

For 2021, Constructora Colpatria envisions to continue gender equality initiatives both within the company and with a sectorial approach. First, offer training to 80% of construction site staff on the basics of gender equality, and awareness raising on implementing the blind CV. Second, to further implement the blind CV strategy and analyze its impact during 2020. Third, the company joined the local governmental initiative “Bogotá, a better place for women” to support female participation in the construction sector.

Constructora Colpatria's determination to strengthen its gender equality policies and practices through MIG SCORE highlights the relevance of addressing gender equality issues for higher productivity and business sustainability, and the importance of implementing proven models to achieve these goals. Creating spaces inside the company to spread and deepen what was achieved in 2019 regarding gender equality through MIG SCORE was a motivating step for the teams to continue putting on their gender glasses with the goal of improving their vision permanently. Getting more staff on board shows the commitment from the management, and is also part of getting the cultural transformation required for more equal, productive and sustainable enterprises.