We work with public and private sector agencies to introduce gender requirements into public procurement policies and practices, in order to use public procurement as an instrument to advance gender equality. Through this approach, we foster gender-responsive procurement and utilize procurement as a catalyst to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
Advancing gender equality through public procurement can take three main forms: increasing the participation of women-owned businesses in public procurement, such as through set-asides for women; increasing the participation of gender-responsive businesses in public procurement, such as through price preferences for such businesses; and ensuring that public services are designed to consider their impact on women by ensuring that public services meet the specific and gendered needs of women.