Empowering women through public procurement & enabling inclusive growth

Policy Brief

Public procurement represents a significant opportunity to build a more inclusive economy, ensure equitable socio-economic recovery and promote gender equality through increased participation of women-owned and women-led businesses in public procurement. Open, accountable, data-driven approaches to public procurement will improve every element of government spending. But for these to be fully effective, they must be inclusive of all businesses. 

This policy brief by UN Women and Open Contracting Partnership summarizes the key challenges women-owned and women-led businesses are facing – and presents the main global approaches and policies that have made a difference across the globe. The policy brief highlights examples of various public procurement policies and approaches from several countries, including Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Kenya, South Africa, and UAE.