• There is need to create relevant opportunities at the State, regional and international level for more women to pursue a career in the aviation sector.
• Addressing aviation challenges calls for concerted efforts among all stakeholders.
• Gender equity in aviation sector is about leveraging the full potential of the workforce, promoting inclusivity and ensuring sustainable growth.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has called for the transformation of the aviation sector’s masculine corporate culture and identity in a bid to attract, promote and retain female talent.

Speaking at the Awareness Workshop on Gender Equality and  Opportunities for Women in Air Transport, COMESA  Director, Gender and Social Affairs, Beatrice Hamusonde emphasized the need to create relevant opportunities at the State, regional and international level for more women to pursue a career in the aviation sector.

Mrs. Hamusonde also stressed the need to advance women’s career on an equal footing with their male counterparts.

She further explained that the awareness workshop is therefore aimed at strengthening regulatory and institutional capacity of Civil Aviation institutions in Eastern and Southern Africa as well as Indian Ocean region in a bid to address gender gaps in the sector.

“The ICAO Assembly Resolution A41-26 urges States, regional and international aviation organizations and the international aviation industry to demonstrate strong, determined leadership and commitment to advance women’s rights, and to take the necessary measures to strengthen gender equality by supporting policies, as well as the establishment and improvement of programmes and projects, to further women’s careers in the aviation industry.”

“By addressing gender gaps in the aviation sector, this workshop aims to create an inclusive environment, generate interest amongst policy makers and industry leaders to encourage the active participation of women in aviation and to foster equal opportunities,” Mrs. Hamusonde stated.

She added that the workshop also aims to enhance awareness among decision makers, policy makers, industry leaders, practitioners and relevant stakeholders about gender-related challenges in the aviation sector, with a strong call to action.

Mrs. Hamusonde further said other objectives include to strengthen collaborations and networks on gender related activities within the aviation community,  improve implementation of regional Gender policies, ICAO assembly resolutions, United Nations Strategic Development Goals on promotion of gender equity and equality in the air transport sector and to discuss ways of mainstreaming gender in policy instruments to benefit the aviation sector.

Officiating at the event, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General, Captain Derrick Luembe, called for concerted efforts among all stakeholders in promoting diversity and creating inclusive environments that support women in aviation the sector.

Captain Luembe, who was represented by Authority Public Relations Officer, Sepiso Zimba noted that the sector has been experiencing challenges which include under representation of women to take up technical roles and leadership positions, a workplace culture where the industry is male dominated and unequal training opportunities, among others.

He said Gender equity in aviation sector is about leveraging the full potential of the workforce, promoting inclusivity and ensuring sustainable growth as well as innovation in the industry, hence the workshop presents an opportunity to address some of the gender gaps that the industry has been facing for a long time.

“Overcoming these challenges calls for concerted efforts among all players such as aviation stakeholders, governments, CAAs, Airports, airlines, training institutions and professional organizations to promote diversity and create inclusive environments that support women in aviation careers,” Capt. Luembe stated.

He noted that the workshop aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 5 which seeks to achieve Gender Equality as well as empower women and girls, which aims to to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life.

Captain Luembe further pledged the Authority’s commitment to supporting all efforts to promote the inclusion and elevation of women in the industry.

“The Civil Aviation Authority has been championing causes on mainstreaming gender at all levels in the organization. To begin with, the Board this year approved the CAA Gender policy which clearly spells out how Gender will be streamlined in our day to day activities as well as encourage inclusiveness with CAA.”

“We also have over 30 percent representation of women within the CAA. Zambia’s first female Pilot Captain Yichidi Ndhlovu works at the CAA as Senior Inspector Operations, we also have our Manager Quality and Safety who is also the Secretary to the Authority, demonstrating the value that we place on women at the CAA,” he added.

The three-day national awareness workshop which will run from 3rd to 5th July 2024, has been organized by COMESA Secretariat in collaboration with Ministries of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Ministry of Education, as well as Civil Aviation Authority, and funded by the European Union under the SATSD programme.