Plan W: Empowering Women through Learning aims to reach women of "all socio-economic profiles" through training and skills development.
The programme is to empower women through several different steps: the company via "workplace diversity"; hospitality skills sector training; community training in marginalised areas; programmes to support "social entrepreneurs"; and brand campaigns.
According to the International Labour Organisation, two thirds of the global workforce in the hospitality industry is made up of women.
Gilbert Ghostine, president, Diageo Asia Pacific said: “Being a partner for good is a big part of our values and history as a company. We are very proud to launch Plan W to support women and the development of communities all around Asia Pacific. As we progress with this major initiative across Asia Pacific, we will look for more strategic partners who are equally committed to supporting this cause to enrich the lives of women and empower them through learning."
Diageo is to work closely with partners such as CARE International - an organisation that fights poverty and injustices in 87 countries around the world. Other key partners include The British Council, which operates large scale programmes to promote social enterprise development across Asia.
Tim Bishop, CARE’s private sector specialist for Asia-Pacific said: “Recognising that women and girls suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on empowering them to create permanent social change. Empowering women can create a ripple effect that has the potential to impact families, communities, villages and even nations.
“It is our hope that Diageo’s support of CARE’s programmes and commitment toward women empowerment in Asia-Pacific will serve as inspiration for other large corporations in the region to become involved.”
