On October 6, the Spanish delegations -comprising representatives from the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE) and the General Subdirectorate of the Budget Office of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD)– and the Portuguese delegation from the LIFE Programme National Contact Points visited Fundación Laboral de la Construcción to learn firsthand about the organization’s experience in projects promoting qualification and equality in the construction sector.

During the meeting, the initiative ‘Women Can Build LatAm’ played an especial role. Matilde Daganzo, International Projects Technician at the Foundation, explained that “The initiative focuses on three fundamental pillars: visibility, training, and international collaboration to share good practices on women’s inclusion in construction.” These areas are key to enabling women to see the sector as a real option for developing their professional careers and breaking down stereotypes and barriers that result in the low participation of this group; only 11.2% of the sector’s workforce in Spain.

In parallel, the ‘Construye 2030plus’ project was also presented. Co-funded by the LIFE Clean Energy Transition programme, it promotes training in micro-competences to facilitate the ecological transition in construction. Since 2011, Fundación Laboral has led the implementation of BUILD UP Skills initiatives in Spain, aimed at preparing construction professionals to face the challenges of the energy transition.