Digital and technological education, key to achieving gender equality

The development of inclusive digital education and transformative technology is a fundamental requirement for a sustainable future. However, women and girls are still underrepresented in this new technological revolution. The shortage of digital experts limits countries' growth prospects and companies' ability to innovate, according to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2022 report by the European Commission. Thus, 55% of EU companies reported difficulties in filling vacancies specialized in Communication and Information Technologies (ICT), an area in which the gender gap is significant: women ICT specialists represent only 19% of all professionals, both in Spain and in the EU. For this reason, on International Women's Day, which is celebrated this Wednesday, March 8, the United Nations is committed to the theme "For an inclusive digital world: innovation and technology for gender equality".

In this context, Aqualia is once again launching its campaign on the www.aqualiaigualdad.com website to highlight, in line with the UN's message, its commitment to female talent, giving visibility to inspiring and innovative women who, in their daily lives, serve as an example and pave the way for girls.

Inspirational women, real role models 

Under the slogan "Real and inspiring women", Aqualia invites you to share an image of a woman who, in her day-to-day life and in her environment, is an example of inspiration for her innovative talent, telling why you admire her. Participants can also support the action by sharing a photo of themselves with a gesture: the hand over the eye in the OK position, symbolizing the visibility of women in innovation.

This year, in addition, the website incorporates a special "Women Innovators" section, which will feature all these real women who inspire others to follow in their footsteps. The images and messages can be shared on social networks with the hashtag #AqualiaIgualdad.

In addition to this action, Aqualia is once again participating in the #EmpleoParaTodas report of the Adecco Foundation, which this year reaches its tenth edition. As a result of the agreement between the two entities, Adecco is carrying out its "Women's Employment" project, aimed at women who are victims of gender-based violence, trafficking and at risk of social exclusion. The aim of the program is to prepare these women to discover their talent and their professional and personal skills, enabling them to receive training. In addition, volunteer actions are carried out for the people who work at Aqualia, as well as awareness-raising actions and the publication of reports, among others. One of the most important actions is the employment camp, a social integration project for 15 women at risk of social exclusion, together with their children aged between 3 and 12.

Supporting female talent

Aqualia promotes the training of women and their promotion to positions of responsibility. To this end, the company has a Mentoring Program for the Promotion of Female Talent, aimed at promoting the presence, visibility and participation of women in the company and facilitating the development of their professional careers, and a Development Program for the Management of Women with High Potential of the School of Industrial Organization (EOI). 

The company also develops and participates in initiatives to raise awareness of equality issues. In addition, it holds the Family-Responsible Company (efr) seal, becoming in 2017 the first national public water utility operator to achieve it. Within this framework, actions are developed to promote work-life balance among professionals, preserving opportunities for promotion and access to training, among other aspects. To help disseminate this message, specialized training on work-life balance is provided on a regular basis.

The company holds the "Equality in the Company" (DIE) distinction from the Ministry of Equality, which is awarded to companies committed to gender equality. It has also recently signed the agreement "Companies for a society free of gender violence" with the Ministry of Equality (Government Delegation against Gender Violence), to promote awareness and social awareness within the framework of the initiative "Companies for a society free of gender violence".

For Aqualia, the first company in the sector to be certified by AENOR in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, water is fundamental for development and can be a driver of change to promote a fairer and more egalitarian society, the main challenge of the United Nations SDGs.