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East Africa Tahmina

Gender Expert
A day in the life of CTG staff

Working in fragile countries always throws challenges your way. I have specific challenges wherever I work as I have mobility difficulties that affect how I walk. I don’t let it daunt me. I like taking on projects where the challenge is increased, not to prove something to myself but to demonstrate to people that if you have the courage, and the will, you can conquer the world. The road is not smoothly paved for people like me but I can show others that the road is still possible.

I’m from Bangladesh and have worked as a Gender Specialist for the last 20 years. Most of my work has taken me around Asia, countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. My recent project in Mogadishu through CTG was my first experience in Africa and I loved it. I was supporting the Government of Somalia, the Women and Human Rights Ministry, to develop the national gender policy.

My mobility is seriously limited but the CTG team at Chelsea Village made it all possible for me on a day to day basis. What I really appreciated was that CTG acknowledged upfront that they might not have all the answers as to how to support me but that with my help they could make it happen. And they did.

Maybe this is CTG's speciality, empowering women?

From easy access to the dining room, to being a priority when it was time to head to the bunker, to assisting during the rain, and helping with all travel arrangements to the airport – they not only enabled me to work but made me enjoy my life there. CTG were sensible and consistent in their approach, and I think I also gave them perspective to think deeper about how to make things more accessible for those with disabilities.

Gender equality isn’t going to be possible immediately but I admire CTG for encouraging more women into these work spaces. It’s positive that a private business is striving to create an enabling work environment for women in these fragile countries. Right from the beginning, during my recruitment process, there was a strong female presence. Maybe this is CTG’s speciality, empowering women?

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