EMPOWER Intervention Classification System (EICS)
There are various interventions that can be employed to combat the prevalence of sexual harassment in public transport systems. The SHE-CAN tool describes an extensive range of these interventions. However, interventions do not all impact sexual harassment in public transport in a similar manner, nor are they implemented at similar scales. It is, therefore, useful to classify interventions into separate, homogeneous categories. To this end, the EMPOWER project team developed the EMPOWER Intervention Classification System (EICS) that is also used in the SHE-CAN tool.
The EICS took inspiration from the Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Development (ICED) Gender and Inclusion Framework, which uses three levels of impact and ambition to address women’s economic empowerment through infrastructure investment [1,2] The EICS also uses three tiers to classify interventions: Foundation, Elevate and Empower. The tiers follow a hierarchy akin to that of a pyramid, as shown in Figure 1.
FOUNDATION
The ‘foundation’ interventions form the base of the pyramid. These interventions are deemed basic changes to the public transport system that ideally should be in place. Examples of ‘foundational’ interventions include providing adequate street lighting or installing panic buttons on public transport vehicles.
see interventionsELEVATION
‘Elevation’ interventions are interventions that do not necessarily form part of the fundamental public transport system provisions, but are add-ons that, when implemented, can improve women’s free and fearless use of public transport, and empower women by providing access to opportunities previously denied. Examples of such interventions are the provision and use of safety auditing apps or appointing female employees within the transport system.
see interventionsEMPOWERMENT
The interventions at the top of the pyramid, whose impacts will be felt throughout the entire network but will be less impactful without a proper foundational base, are the ‘empowerment’ interventions. These interventions are aimed at transforming society and governance from the top down, typically through policy changes, law reform, campaigns and education.
see interventions
Figure 1: Schematic representation of the EMPOWER Intervention Classification System (EICS)
References:
1. Department for International Development. (n.d.) Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Development. Available: http://icedfacility.org/. [9 December 2021].
2. Jobes, K, Naidu, V, Limbu, ST and Phillips, S. (2017) Transport: A Game Changer for Women’s Economic Empowerment – Briefing Note. Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Development, Department for International Development.