The training aimed at introducing representatives of IORA Member States to new thinking on how to empower women by including gender considerations in procurement processes across business and governments.
Gender-responsive procurement refers to the sustainable selection of services, goods or civil works that takes into consideration the impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment. A number of governments in the Indian Ocean Rim region have adopted gender-responsive and affirmative procurement policies and practices as a strategy to support women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
In light of the asymmetrical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women across business and economic sectors, as well as women-led entrepreneurship, gender responsive procurement targeting women-run SMEs is a positive strategy to support women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment during the COVID-19 crisis and enable economies to build back better.
The training was run in two groups. The first group took place on 9-11 February 2021 and the second group took place on 23-25 February 2021.
This training was provided under IORA’s collaboration with UN Women to strengthen research on women’s economic empowerment, and promote the Women’s Empowerment Principles in the region, supported through a three-year project funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The full list of activities under the IORA-UN Women partnership, supported by the Government of Australia, is available here.