Who We Are

• Guiding Principles
• Background
• Our People
• Partners and Sponsors
• Women and Construction

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Women and Construction

Women as social and economic participants - A first step in the journey towards socio-economic development

Development practitioners all over the world have been instrumental in perpetuating the notion that women can and should play an integral role in socio-economic development.

A growing body of microeconomic evidence indicates that increases in women’s education, labour force participation, and earnings can stimulate socio-economic development. Access to education, equal opportunity employment, the creation of conducive working environments, and equal remuneration practices facilitate the entrance into and participation of women in the labour force.

This in turn contributes to the general empowerment of women as consumers and household decision makers, further stimulating economic growth and an improvement in living standards for men, women and children.

Living up to the role of caregivers, women tend to spend their income on those items which provide sustenance for their families. Recent statistics indicate that women contribute to 89% of day-to-day purchases (necessities such as food, clothing and education) and are responsible for 69% of household purchases (furniture and appliances).

For many developing nations, the implementation of policies that address gender equality including the transformation of mindsets and the opening up of formerly male dominated industries, plays a critical role in determining their rate of economic growth and their ability to sustain socio-economic development.

Unlocking this powerful living resource is for many nations the first step in their journey towards effective socio-economic development.

Sustainable global socio-economic development is dependent on the stabilisation of national economies and the improvement of local social structures.

It is believed that socio-economic development is, amongst other things, a product of industrialisation in which social transformation and economic development are closely linked to technological innovation. Economies driven by advanced industrial infrastructure tend to experience better performance and consequently higher living standards.

Construction creates an economic ripple effect and aids socio-economic development. Public works in areas such as housing delivery and the building of schools, hospitals, transportation systems, parks and stadia have a direct impact on development. Private sector construction is another major contributor towards development. Through the erection of office buildings, factories, shopping malls and hotels, construction serves as a critical link to skills development, infrastructure, job creation and service delivery.

The national economies of developed countries are powered by their construction sectors, with construction accounting for a considerable percentage of their GDP.

As a developing nation, South Africa’s economic performance is both healthy and hopeful. As our policies transform to keep pace with the developed world, our economic performance improves, enhancing the quality of the lives of South African citizens.

The construction sector is a national asset. It is the fastest growing economic sector in South Africa. With a 2007 growth rate of 18.1% the construction sector made a 3.1% contribution to GDP. Early in 2008 a record growth rate of 21.3%, the highest since 1989 was reported amidst predictions of continued and accelerated growth.

Though the local construction industry is not immune to the current international economic downturn, the industry remains one of the more stable sectors of our economy. The construction sector is expected to grow consistently well beyond 2010. Although construction of infrastructure for the 2010 World Cup was seen as a major driver of growth in recent years, experts predict that government’s planned spending of R787 billion on infrastructural development will continue to sustain healthy growth rates.

Opportunities

Bridging the development divide

Opportunities for women to engage in the housing and construction sectors are greater now than ever. Government has played a key role in opening the doors for women and encouraging our participation in all aspects of the economy, including construction.

Women’s contributions to the economic, cultural, technological, political, and human development of societies, past and present, are firmly acknowledged. The future brings opportunities for even greater contributions to these components of socio-economic development.

Gender equality and the development of women have been become key national goals. As a result of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (BEE) and numerous other government policies that promote racial and gender equality, we are beginning to see the formation of a more representative economic and social landscape.

Government sees the housing and construction sectors as critical areas of opportunity for transformation in terms of both race and gender. For a variety of reasons, many women are venturing into the housing and wider construction industries.