women by advancing Supplier Diversity

through Gender-Responsive Procurement

(SD-GRP) in Thailand and Viet Nam.

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND GENDER-RESPONSIVE PROCUREMENT

Supplier Diversity is an approach which promotes Gender-responsive procurement (GRP) is defined as

procurement from businesses that are majority owned
works that takes into account the impact on gender
underserved individuals or groups.1 equality and women’s empowerment.”2

The global procurement market is worth trillions of dollars and

engages public and private organisations through the exchange of
goods and services. Globally, public procurement is estimated to
generate between USD 11 trillion to USD 13 trillion annually.
Despite this, globally, WOBs receive only 1 per cent of both
public and private procurement spending.4,5
small and medium-sized
enterprises that have (1) at are defined as enterprises Structural gender inequalities impede women from a variety of
least 51% ownership by which integrate gender backgrounds, race, class, sexual orientation, ability, and education,
women; or (2) at least 20% equality into their policies from gaining equitable access to networks, finance, and markets,
female-owned and (a) at and practices, in alignment
least one woman as chief including procurement markets. This prevents them from starting,
with UN Women's Women
executive officer, chief Empowerment Principles, expanding, or maximising the profits of their businesses.
operating officer, president, International Labour
and/or vice president; and (b) Organisation standards and Market access through procurement opportunities is key for GREs
30% or more females on its other international and WOBs because it empowers women to increase profits,
board of directors, where a standards. 3 further contribute to the economy and allows their businesses to
board exists. thrive.

Stronger Ecosystems:
Increased capacity of buyers:
Support more public and private
Public and private buying

advance SD-GRP for, promote and implement GRP

IMPACT
More equitable market
models and networks:
Through resilient and inclusive
business models and networking GREs to connect to larger public and
private buyers
increased capacity to access markets

For more information contact UN Women WE RISE Together is supported by the Australian Government through the
Thailand and Overall Coordination: Mekong-Australia Partnership and implemented by UN Women.
Siriporn Rathie, Siriporn.Rathie@unwomen.org The Mekong-Australia Partnership is part of Australia’s landmark package of new economic,
Vietnam: Kim Lan NGUYEN, development and security measures to support Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 recovery,
Nguyen.Lan@unwomen.org sharing the vision for an open, inclusive, secure, and prosperous Mekong subregion.

1 Elizabeth A. Vazquez, and Andrew J. Sherman. Buying for impact: How to buy from women and change our world. 3 UN Women, ‘The power of procurement: How to source from women-owned businesses.
Charleston, South Carolina. Advantage Media Group. 2013.
4 ITC. 2020, Making Public Procurement Work for Women.

5 UN Women. n.d. WEPs: Gender-responsive procurement.