New report: Making Public Procurement Work for Women
Public procurement accounts for almost 40% of GDP in many countries. Yet globally, women-owned businesses make up only 1% of procurement markets.
There is growing political commitment to increase women’s participation in public procurement tenders, but countries need practical advice on how to go about it.
Making Public Procurement Work for Women addresses that challenge. Through this guidebook, the International Trade Centre helps governments identify issues specific to their women-owned businesses, understand policy options and take action.
‘Governments act as both buyers and advocates to increase women’s participation in public procurement,’ said Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre. ‘They can lead from the front, showing why investing in women-owned businesses through procurement makes good business sense.’
The guidebook shows how policymakers, statistical offices and procurement officers governments can broaden their supplier base, and include more women in direct and indirect sourcing. It goes through options such as minimum targets in preferential policies, subcontracting plans and focused initiatives to build capacity.
Case studies show how governments in Nigeria, the Gambia, and Chile have addressed these challenges.
The guidebook was produced under the SheTrades in the Commonwealth programme, funded by the government of the United Kingdom.
