Harley Reed Côte d’Ivoire, in partnership with UN Women, organized a workshop on gender-responsive procurement and the promotion of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) on 8 and 9 August 2024 at the Tiama Hotel in the Plateau commune. The event, which took place over two and half days, brought together players from the private sector, particularly banking and insurance, as well as other economic sectors, to explore ways of integrating gender equality into procurement practices.
The first half-day was dedicated to private companies from the banking and insurance sectors. These companies discussed strategies for including more women in their supply chains and maximizing their activities’ social and economic impact. The second half-day focused on other sectors, enabling a wider range of participants to learn about best practices and discuss their field’s specific challenges.
During the workshops, led by Aurélie Kouadio, Managing Director of Harley Reed Côte d’Ivoire, and Kadé Ba, Non-Executive Director of Harley Reed Côte d’Ivoire, participants had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of integrating the gender dimension into procurement processes, with a particular focus on creating economic opportunities for women. The enriching discussions highlighted both the challenges and the practical solutions for promoting greater participation by women in supply chains.
Among the themes addressed, the emphasis was on the importance of gender equality as a lever for business performance. Experts shared case studies and best practices showing how gender-sensitive procurement policies can stimulate economic growth while strengthening corporate social responsibility.
The workshop is part of a series of initiatives by UN Women to encourage companies to adopt the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a global framework to ensure equal opportunities and empowerment for women in the workplace, marketplace and community. These principles, presented during the workshops by Rita Serraj, UN Women Coordinator in Côte d’Ivoire, are all the more relevant in an economic context where inclusion is becoming an essential vector for sustainable development.
The event was marked by inspiring testimonies from local women business leaders who shared their experiences and the benefits they have gained from integrating a gender perspective into their activities. The fruitful exchanges between the participants helped to identify concrete ways of empowering women through responsible sourcing strategies.
In conclusion, the workshop marked a key step in implementing gender-sensitive procurement in Côte d’Ivoire. Furthermore, it strengthened collaboration among stakeholders for a more inclusive economy. UN Women remains committed to supporting companies in integrating WEPs. As a result, they aim to achieve full gender equality in the business world.
