Grab Fortifies Commitment to Inclusive Economic Empowerment for Women through GrabAsenso

By motoph admin on March 9, 2024

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New Initiatives and Features Aim at Lowering Barriers for Women to Gain Equitable Access to Earning Opportunities on Grab’s Platform

Grab Philippines proudly unveils the launch of its Women Program as part of its social upliftment campaign, GrabAsenso. The Women Program is tailored to support women across the country in becoming driver-partners on the Grab platform.

In a significant collaboration, Grab Philippines has partnered with TESDA to introduce a specialized training program focusing on preventive maintenance and servicing, uniquely designed to empower women driver-partners.

The Women Program stands as a pivotal element within GrabAsenso, a multifaceted initiative dedicated to enhancing the lives of Grab driver-partners, delivery partners, and merchant-partners. Leveraging its extensive presence, technological prowess, and robust partner ecosystem, GrabAsenso is poised to make tangible strides in livelihood creation, upskilling, and promoting gender equality and inclusivity.

Specifically addressing the Women Program, Grab Philippines endeavors to diminish barriers hindering women from accessing earning opportunities as Grab driver-partners. This aligns with Grab’s overarching mission to propel Southeast Asia forward by fostering economic empowerment for all. Through initiatives tailored to address women’s unique apprehensions about driving, the Women Program strives to foster gender equality and facilitate greater female participation and benefit on the Grab platform.

Grace Vera Cruz, Country Head of Grab Philippines, expresses, “As a female leader in what many regard as a male-dominated space, I am committed to rallying everyone at Grab, especially all female leaders, to create more opportunities for womankind – lifting more people as we rise as leaders and as a company. This ethos is deeply rooted in our philosophy that growth is not just about business and operations; it’s about responsible, inclusive, and empathetic growth. One that brings Filipinos to a world where everyone thrives regardless of background or gender.”

Overcoming barriers with dedicated training programs and a women driver-partner community

Through extensive surveys and discussions with existing women driver-partners, Grab has identified common deterrents, including societal perceptions that driving is unsuitable for women, obligations to fulfill sociocultural roles at home, and a general lack of confidence.

To address these concerns and equip women with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel on the Grab platform, the Women Program offers tailored training modules and a diverse range of community activities, including:

Tailored Training Modules: Covering topics such as vehicle maintenance, customer service, defensive driving, and more, these modules are designed to address common concerns. Collaborating with TESDA, MMDA, PCW, and PRC, Grab Philippines ensures the delivery of women-centric training sessions. Accessible via the GrabAcademy on the Grab Driver App, these modules provide essential knowledge in a convenient, bite-sized format.
Women Driver-Partner Community: Grab facilitates the establishment of online communities, enabling women partners to connect, share experiences, and support one another. These communities, primarily hosted on Facebook and WhatsApp, provide a platform for regular communication. Offline engagement activities further strengthen relationships among women driver-partners.

In addition, special events, such as the “Babae Ako, Babiyahe Ako” event on March 17, recognize and celebrate the achievements of women driver-partners based on various merits, including passenger ratings, ride completion, and years of experience.

Ensuring peace of mind for Grab’s women driver-partners

Safety remains a paramount concern for women driver-partners. As part of the Women Program, Grab introduces a new “Women Passengers Preferred BETA” feature, available exclusively to women driver-partners starting March 08, 2024. This feature allows women partners to indicate their preference for women passengers, enhancing safety by increasing the likelihood of matching a woman driver-partner with a woman passenger in proximity.

To raise awareness for the program, Grab launches the #WomenWelcome campaign in conjunction with International Women’s Day. This campaign includes a thematic film acknowledging the invisible hurdles faced by women in driving for a living and highlights Grab’s efforts in making driving more conducive for women through safety innovation, training, and community support.