Gender-responsive procurement

Gender-responsive and inclusive businesses and organizations empower women, promote equality for women and men, and help to make society more fair.

Businesses and organizations that support and include women on an equal basis help to make society fairer, encourage social progress and strengthen their communities.

Gender refers to the roles and expectations that society has for men and women. When a supplier makes intentional commitments to including women equally in their eco-system and value chains, we say that they are gender-responsive.

UNOPS aims to source from a diverse range of suppliers including those that are women-owned and that promote gender equality to reflect the communities we serve.

Learn about including gender-responsive practices in your business or organization and promoting equal opportunities for women in your networks and communities.

What is a gender-responsive organization?

Gender-responsive organizations proactively promote women's empowerment and gender equality through:

Making sure there is equal opportunity for women and men when:
- Recruiting and hiring
- Considering promotions
- Making leadership appointments
Ensuring fair and equal financial remuneration for men and women
Designing workplace cultures that are free from biases against women
Promoting the inclusion of women-owned and gender-responsive suppliers in your supply chain
Developing and implementing policies that promote the safety and protection of all team members, irrespective of their gender, for example, policies that protect against sexual exploitation and abuse
Ensuring that any facilities at their workplaces are not discriminatory or create discomfort for women

Gender equality and being inclusive of women are important for people to live a life they value, where their needs are met, their human rights are protected and they are able to participate equally in society, as promised in the 2030 Agenda.

What are the benefits of working towards gender equality and becoming a gender-responsive business or organization?

Social and financial inclusion:
Gender-responsive organizations promote equal access to opportunities for women. This has a positive social and financial impact on the communities in which you operate by promoting fairness and helping them prosper and do well.
The business case:
Gender-responsive businesses and organizations are more creative, financially successful and able to handle challenges, often outperforming their competitors. Having a diverse team drives better decision-making because more voices are heard, so a wider range of ideas can be included when problem-solving. This results in businesses and organizations finding more innovative solutions.
Global shifts towards gender equality:
Many governments and organizations are choosing suppliers who promote gender equality. This is in line with global shifts towards gender equality, as described in Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8, 10 and 12. By setting and achieving meaningful gender equality targets in your organization, you stand to enhance your competitive edge.

Learn more about how you can create a gender-responsive organization by downloading our guidance documents in the box.

Resources

A guide to implementing gender-responsive actions in your organization

Top 10 tools for building gender equality into your organization

Gender-responsive procurement at UNOPS

UNOPS Gender, Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming in Projects Strategy, 2022-2025

Prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment at UNOPS

Women Empowerment Principles

Gender-responsive public procurement

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in Our Workforce Strategy, 2022-2025

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What is a gender-responsive organization?

What are the benefits of working towards gender equality and becoming a gender-responsive business or organization?