The Cuban Woman and Her Role in the Development of Environmental Projects

Experiences of a Cuban woman in the development of science and her contribution to the sustainability of the environment

The GEF-CReW+ project is a way to support the countries of the Caribbean region in solving problems related to the management of wastewater that impacts aquatic systems.

In particular, this project in Cuba contributes to improving the system of collection and management of urban waste in the Rodas municipality and strengthening the capacities of the Municipal Councils of Cuencas of the Cienfuegos province, to properly report aspects related to the implementation of the Objective of Sustainable Development 6 on Water Quality.

In the personal aspect, assuming the coordination of this project in Cuba has been another opportunity in the long journey of my professional training and, at the same time, a challenge. I feel great satisfaction to be able to contribute from my position as a scientist to the improvement of environmental conditions in that area of ​​my country.

As a Cuban woman, I must recognize that the transcendental changes that occurred with the revolutionary triumph and particularly with the participation of women in science have had an important contribution since they allowed the recognition of their creative capacity, their potentialities, and their social equality.

This has influenced the high percentage represented by this force with the highest technical and professional qualifications in my country. However, it is also worth noting the resistance and dedication that women require to achieve high professional goals since it is a challenge to combine successful performance in the workplace, with the care responsibilities that are assigned to us in the family, the double shift, and the various personal problems that influence our actions.

Fortunately, since my insertion into the workplace, I never suffered gender discrimination and I had many opportunities that contributed to my postgraduate improvement and to acquire certain skills.

Before completing my 5 years of required graduation work, I had already obtained a Master of Science degree and was coordinating a territorial scope project. Later, other research and development projects of greater complexity and scope were added.

Both in my work in coordinating these and in my doctoral training since I was 30 years old, I was learning some important skills for the satisfactory management of them. From technical skills that involve processes and methodologies, conceptual and organizational skills; linked to planning and goal orientation, to human skills, which are no less important, and are related to teamwork, communication, and the motivation of those involved to achieve the proposed objectives.

Although the implementation of this project in several countries, including Cuba, was affected by Covid-19, we were able to carry out the preparation and planning stages satisfactorily through various work meetings with the participating entities to achieve their commitments, draw the objectives, define responsibilities and needs, as well as to form the work teams and an adequate schedule for their development.

Also, we were able to carry out field visits to better understand environmental problems, gather information and design environmental monitoring programs in response to the proposed objectives. We hope that this year, a set of activities can be expedited in order to achieve the planned results.

Author: Mabel Seisdedo Losa, GEF CReW+ Focal Point in Cuba. Principal Researcher.  Environmental Studies Centre of Cienfuegos (CEAC in Spanish)