Gender equality, diversity and inclusion
At ITC, we're committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels empowered and valued, regardless of their background or identity. Our GDI strategy is built on the principles of promoting lasting organizational transformation, adopting an intersectional approach, and harnessing partnerships for meaningful impact. We believe in creating a culture where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is the norm, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
ITC works towards a world in which trade builds inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous economies. Realizing this vision starts from within - with a workforce that reflects the diversity of our constituents and an inclusive culture that promotes innovation, creativity and well-being, we are better prepared to deliver effective solutions to global challenges.
At ITC, we model what matters by creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment for all. We are committed to embracing the diverse backgrounds of our workforce, eradicating bias, and taking a zero-tolerance stance towards any form of discrimination. Fostering an organizational culture of openness, flexibility, and trust, is key to empowering our employees and enabling them to make the best of their talents at home and at work.
ITC’s Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy focuses on mainstreaming these aspects at the corporate level and reflects the UN Values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.
At ITC, we are committed to being a first mover around gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within the UN system. Our innovative strategies have received system-wide recognition as best practice.
Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) contributors – ITC has a dedicated team to promote and support gender, diversity and inclusion across various dimensions. Our Focal Points aim to:
- Raise Awareness: Advocate for a more inclusive and sensitive work environment.
- Set and Monitor Goals: Help develop, implement, and track inclusion targets.
- Support Training and Policy Development: Advise on training initiatives and policy creation for an inclusive organizational culture.
Our Intersectional Approach – is to recognize and address interconnected social identities using a multi-pronged approach internally and externally.
Women’s Power Lunch - Learning from inspiring women leaders
Reflecting the belief that "the personal is professional", the Women's Power Lunches aim to go beyond the speakers’ official biographies and explore the sometimes-personal forces that play into professional choices – to empower beginning to mid-career women.
Mainstreaming Inclusion - Integrate GDI across all areas and operations
Gender Moonshot: ITC‘s commitment to strengthen gender mainstreaming across the organization.
Geneva Alliance Against Racism: The Alliance champions good practices to address racism and discrimination in the workplace and further good practices to address racism and discrimination in the workplace.
International Gender Champions: The International Gender Champions (IGC) is a leadership network that brings together decision-makers determined to break down gender barriers and make gender equality a working reality in their spheres of influence.
UN Disability Working Groups: To further its goals and commitment to disability inclusion, ITC is an active member of several UN Disability working groups.
- We are committed to remain a top-performer on the UN System-wide Action Plan (UN-SWAP) on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Read ITC's 2021 UN-SWAP 2.0 Report.
- The ITC Mentoring Programme for Women is an inter-agency collaboration to advance the creation of an inclusive work environment with one-on-one mentoring and group learning activities. The MenEngage component encourages men to champion gender equality and to critically reflect on social constructs surrounding masculinity.
- Trainings for all employees on skills like active bystander behaviour, with additional training for senior managers on gender equality, foster important knowledge within the organization.
- A pioneering breast- and bottle-feeding policy promotes a positive, progressive attitude towards active parenting by providing all parents an equal opportunity to nourish and bond with their infants while at work.
We put the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) into action by working continuously on improving workplace accessibility and mainstreaming the rights of persons with disabilities. Read ITC’s latest report on its UNDIS performance.
- To strengthen inter-agency cooperation, ITC is an active member of the UNDIS focal point network.
- ITC regularly participates in meetings and events around the advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities, such as the Global Disability Summit and the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We also organize awareness-raising campaigns on the World Autism Awareness Day and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
- We defined disability inclusion as one of the focus areas of our Mentoring Programme for Women, encouraging an intersectional approach to diversity in the workplace.
Race plays a significant role for people of colour as they navigate the workforce. At ITC, we are committed to ensuring equitable workplaces for all employees.
- As an active member of the UNOG Working Group on Racism, ITC is greatly involved in the development of a UN-wide approach to fight racism and all forms of racial discrimination – working within a zero-tolerance approach.
- Events bring dynamism to our awareness-raising efforts and give employees the opportunity to learn from exchanges. We have commemorated special times in the year like Black History Month and held interactive panel discussions to understand experiences and reflect on racism in the UN.
At ITC, we strive to create an environment where individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning (LGBTQI+) can be their most authentic selves and be empowered to thrive within the organization and beyond.
- We raise awareness through periodic newsletters (e.g., IDAHOBIT, International Pronouns Day) and events, such as an inter-agency webinar on the inclusion of trans*, non-binary and gender non-conforming personnel in the UN-system and a lunch hour discussion on LGBTQI+ entrepreneurship.
- We are exploring the mainstreaming of LGBTQI+ considerations at ITC’s corporate and programmatic levels.
- Events, such as ITC’s Well-being and Mental Health Week, serve to normalize the mental health conversation, share resources, and build capacity around the promotion of well-being at ITC.
- Our work-life balance policy contributes to employees’ well-being by providing flexible solutions, including staggered working hours and the possibility of a compressed work schedule.
