Hivos announces the Colourful Workplaces Conference

January 12, 2018

Hivos, Workplace Pride and Sullivan Marketing are organising a one-day conference on diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The conference will take place on 8 February 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Globally companies are beginning to embrace diversity and inclusion, as studies have shown that more diverse teams perform better, are more creative and innovative. Inclusive workplaces also reduce staff turnover and increase employee loyalty. While strides are being made by having policies in place, there still remains much work to be done to include women, People Living with Disability, and Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) persons. In particular, sexual minorities face insurmountable challenges in accessing work from social stigma, as well as job dismissals, legal barriers and being their true selves at work.

It is within this context that Hivos, Workplace Pride and Sullivan Marketing forged a partnership to establish the Colourful Workplaces Programme that seeks to propel social change by engaging companies to create an open and accepting workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and can contribute as equally as other employees.

The conference brings together the Kenyan and international public with private sector employees, decision makers, politicians, human resource professionals, civil society and academia to discuss challenges and opportunities in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The conference presents an opportunity to launch the recently released UN Standards of Conduct for Business on tackling LGBTI discrimination. This will be the first time that these landmark standards are launched in Africa.

The conference has three specific objectives:

  • To promote diversity and inclusion in the business sector;
  • To share knowledge and best practices on establishing inclusive work environments;
  • To connect, network and increase mutual understanding on equality, diversity and inclusion at the workplace.

Additionally, the conference includes panel discussions that will explore the legal, corporate and socio-cultural barriers that limit the development and implementation of inclusive policies.

About the Colorful Workplaces Programme

Colourful Workplaces is a product of co-creation efforts between Hivos, Workplace Pride and Sullivan Marketing with the aim of supporting the private sector, government agencies and civil society to work together in creating diverse and inclusive workplaces where everyone brings their full selves to work.

The creation of the programme was informed by a previous research to examine how multinational companies translate their often progressive policies on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) diversity into practice in Kenya, where there are legal barriers and stigmatising sociocultural norms. The study: “Colourful Workplaces? Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Multinational Businesses in Kenya,” can be downloaded from the right side bar.