Gender-responsive procurement is the selection of services, goods and civil works that considers their impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Corporations are well positioned to promote gender equality and empower women in their workplaces, in their communities, and through their purchasing policies and practices.
The sheer size and volume of corporate purchasing worldwide means that corporations have the potential to dramatically influence the way suppliers and supply chains operate. Each year, corporations spend trillions of dollars acquiring goods and services, yet purchases from women-owned businesses account for a mere one per cent of the total spend. By overlooking women owned businesses, many corporations are missing an opportunity to expand their global markets, diversify their supply chains, and grow the economy, while simultaneously improving the lives of women and girls around the globe.
