Gender-Responsive Procurement in Asia and the Pacific: An Opportunity for an Equitable Economic Future

The Gender-Responsive Procurement in Asia and the Pacific: An Opportunity for an Equitable Economic Future report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UN Women highlights the importance of gender-responsive procurement in creating an inclusive economic future.

According to the report, women-led businesses have been hit disproportionately hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited access to government stimulus packages and capital investments. This has led to considerable disparities in economic opportunities along gender lines.

The report studies the current landscape of gender-responsive procurement in the region, noting that many governments lack sufficient provisions or regulations related to supplier diversity and gender-sensitive value chains. It further highlights that although supplier databases exist, they often don’t account for the unique needs of women entrepreneurs and their businesses. Additionally, it draws attention to low awareness among public sector buyers on how to source from female suppliers as well as the high transaction costs associated with doing so.

In order to promote an equitable economic recovery, the report recommends that governments take active steps towards implementing and strengthening regulations related to gender-responsive procurement. This includes establishing requirements for the data collection on female suppliers so that they can be considered during government procurement processes.

Governments should also build capacity among public sector buyers around understanding gender-sensitive value chains and supporting women-owned businesses through financial incentives and innovation investments. Finally, there needs to be improved transparency throughout all stages of procurement processes in order to reduce potential risks and barriers to participation by female entrepreneurs.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Benefits and Challenges of Gender-Responsive Procurement
• Mapping Public-Sector Procurement in Asia and the Pacific
• Gender-Responsive Procurement in the Private Sector in Asia and the Pacific
• Key Recommendations

This report was originally published on the ADB website.