Gender equality, disability, and social inclusion
What do we mean by GEDSI?
GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) addresses unequal power dynamics shaped by gender, socioeconomic status, ability, ethnicity, location, language, agency, etc.
Our project integrates GEDSI principles into Ukraine’s post-war green reconstruction, focusing on empowering women in the construction sector and enabling a just transition for all. We aim to raise awareness to help ensure equal rights, opportunities, and access to services, moving beyond traditional welfare approaches toward long-term inclusion and equity.
GEDSI barriers in the construction field
Ukraine’s construction sector is undergoing significant change, with female employment increasing by 18% since the invasion started, reaching 38% in 2023. This shift, driven by male mobilization to fight in the war and growing alignment with EU gender equality policies, presents a strong opportunity to advance GEDSI across the industry.
However, gender stereotypes, workplace harassment, lack of mentorship, and inflexible work structures still hinder women and marginalized groups. These barriers limit participation, career growth, and work-life balance. An intersectional, inclusive approach and intervention are needed to address these challenges in reconstruction efforts.
Our vision and approach
We envision a sustainable, circular, and inclusive reconstruction. To support this, we’re addressing gender bias through interviews with women in the field and a GEDSI workshop.
Through the S3RoU project, we apply GEDSI principles by using circular technologies that reduce environmental impact and make construction more accessible to women and underrepresented groups.
We plan to involve women in manual labor roles, as technology enables the optimization of certain tasks to the extent that physical workload is no longer a significant barrier.
01.Unlock the barriers.
We want to highlight obstacles and opportunities for women in the Ukrainian construction sector.
02.Promote inclusivity
Ensure that adopting circular concrete practices contributes to a more equitable and inclusive construction industry.
03.Share lived experiences
Through interviews with women in the construction industry, we explore the obstacles they encounter.
Integrating broader inclusion within a gender-focused approach
We focus our efforts on promoting gender equality, while our GEDSI approach also addresses broader dimensions, including disability, age, veteran status, and social vulnerability. As a part of our commitment:
01
We are also
committed to inclusion.
committed to inclusion.
During the project S3RoU, we also employed a deaf-mute team member, which we believe demonstrates how adapting work processes to accommodate diverse abilities can lead to meaningful and impactful outcomes
02
We are conducting awareness campaigns on the safe handling of hazardous materials.
We have published informative posts highlighting the dangers of asbestos exposure, and we will continue to disseminate this information through our social media channels and other communication
03
We are actively engaging individuals of retirement age.
They contribute significantly by managing documentation, monitoring materials, and performing a range of administrative duties during the project S3RoU
04
We demonstrate a strong commitment to gender balance
As part of the project team, the ReThink NGO team is made up of 88.89% women. This includes five full-time members (four women and one man), as well as at least three part-time female contractors. We are especially focused on increasing the involvement of women directly on the construction site. The S3RoU project technologies simplify heavy physical labor and optimize workflows, making construction work gender-accessible. We aim to create an environment where more women can confidently and safely participate in on-site activities. While not all roles can be adapted immediately, we are actively working to expand opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with varying abilities
05
We are organizing workshops to promote awareness about inclusivity
We conducted a workshop “Breaking Barriers: Gender and Social Justice in Construction”, on June 19, 2025, focused on the integration of veterans into the construction industry. The event featured experts in social inclusion who specialize in developing policies to help integrate veterans into Ukraine’s workforce. Their insights will help shape more inclusive practices within the construction sector, particularly for veterans, older adults, and people with disabilities.
