🧩 The Challenge
The 2018 Quito Metro Line One Project (P144489) was designed to enhance urban mobility in Quito, Ecuador, addressing the growing demand for public transportation. With over 91% of women reporting experiences of harassment in public spaces, many have been forced to adjust their travel habits for safety reasons. Additionally, women representing only 9% of the transport workforce in the country.
🛠️ The Intervention
The project implemented several measures to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the metro, including the following:
- A Prevention and Response Protocol developed and implemented by the metro operator to provide multiple entry points for women to report harassment cases and access survivor-centered support services.
- The installation of a communication system to facilitate the reporting of harassment incidents and connect individuals to the various reporting channels for prevention and response.
- Training and capacity-building for Quito Metro staff and operators at all levels, with a requirement for transport operators and platform employees to implement the protocol.
- An internal and external communication strategy designed to foster a culture of non-violence within the metro organization and among its users.
Additionally, in response to the gender employment gap in the transport sector and the potential for improved safety perceptions and gender-responsive planning, the contract between the Quito Metro and the operator included a 20% women’s quota for operational staff and women in technical and decision-making positions.
📊 Results
During the first five months of project implementation, results were significant: 96% of women reported feeling safe on the metro, with only six harassment cases over 20 million trips.
The metro also achieved 40% female participation in its workforce, surpassing the 20% target, with 50% of management roles held by women.
Note: Alejandro Hoyos Guerrero (Senior Transport Specialist, World Bank) and Karla Dominguez Gonzalez (Senior Transport Specialist, World Bank) provided input into this case study.