Training on Building Inclusive and Gender-Responsive HR Practices in Tajikistan’s Energy Sector
On 2–3 July 2026, a two-day training on "Building Inclusive and Gender-Responsive HR Practices in the Energy Sector" was held in Dushanbe, bringing together 30 participants representing human resources professionals, senior managers, project implementation teams, and social and gender specialists from key energy sector institutions. The event was organized under World Bank-supported energy projects and aimed to strengthen human resource management practices that foster more inclusive, respectful, and gender-responsive workplaces. The training was facilitated by Ksenia Kim, an international human resources management expert, with the participation of representatives of the World Bank.
The event was officially opened by Mr. Gael Raballand, World Bank Group Country Manager for Tajikistan, who delivered welcoming remarks emphasizing the importance of strengthening human capital and promoting inclusive human resource management practices across the energy sector. He highlighted the World Bank’s continued commitment to supporting institutional capacity development, gender equality, and the creation of safe and inclusive workplaces, and wished all participants a productive training and successful implementation of the knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme.
The training responded to findings from recent HR gender assessments conducted across participating energy sector entities within the framework of the implementation of the Gender Action Plan. These assessments highlighted common workforce challenges, including the underrepresentation of women in leadership and technical positions, limited pathways for attracting young female professionals, the need for stronger retention and career development mechanisms, and opportunities to improve workplace culture and gender-responsive HR policies. Through expert presentations, practical exercises, group discussions, and peer learning, participants explored modern approaches to inclusive recruitment, employee retention, leadership development, respectful workplace culture, and evidence-based HR decision-making.
Representatives from the Project Management Group (PMG), the Directorate of the Flood Zone (DFZ), OJSC Rogun HPP, contractor organizations, other World Bank-funded Project Implementation Units (Pamir Energy and Barqi Tojik), as well as members of the WeSEE Network (Women’s Empowerment in Sustainable Energy in Europe and Central Asia) and the World Bank exchanged experiences and discussed practical solutions tailored to the operational realities of the energy sector. The training emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to attract and retain qualified professionals while creating equitable opportunities for career growth and fostering safe, inclusive working environments.
As a key outcome of the training, participating organizations identified practical priority actions to strengthen their HR systems over the coming months and reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the activities and indicators of the Gender Action Plan, including improvements to recruitment processes, employee development, workplace policies, and the use of gender-disaggregated HR data for informed decision-making. The event also reinforced collaboration among participating institutions and laid the foundation for continued knowledge sharing and future capacity-building initiatives to support a more diverse, inclusive, and resilient energy workforce in Tajikistan.
