A first-of-its-kind open-access online course presented by the World Bank and UN Women will examine the often-invisible gender issues surrounding mobility in the transport sector.

"Barriers to transportation, and to jobs in the transport sector, mean diminished mobility and fewer opportunities for women. Limited access to jobs, healthcare and education is not only bad for women and girls, it also impacts whole countries," said an official statement.

A 2017 report from the International Labour Organisation identified lack of transport as the greatest challenge to female labour force participation in developing countries, lowering the probability of women participating in the labour force by an estimated 16.5 per cent.

The new course, 'Gender Equality in Transportation,' seeks to move away from "gender-blind" transport planning, which does not consider the mobility needs of its diverse range of users, women and girls in particular. It also looks at strategies planners can use to address the difficulties women face in getting jobs and climbing the career ladder in transport, a sector dominated by a male workforce.

The course highlights the importance of approaching transport through a gender lens, and proposes practical solutions for enhancing inclusion and equality across the sector, balancing "why" questions with operational "how" questions. It also offers examples of concrete interventions designed to support the shift toward greater gender equality in transport.

This course was jointly prepared by the World Bank's Transport Global Practice and Open Learning Campus, and the UN Women´s Training Centre and the Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative.

The course benefited from funding from the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Economy and Finance under the OLC's Korea Program for Operational Knowledge.