POST EVENT

On 18 June 2020, the WE EMPOWER-G7 team hosted Leveraging Inclusive Procurement amid COVID-19 webinar.

The webinar showcased public and private sectors role in following the gender-responsive procurement practices in times of COVID-19.

 

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

COVID-19 and Gender Equality: A Call to Action for the Private Sector

Responsible Purchasing Practices in Times of COVID-19

The Power of Procurement: How to Source from Women-owned Businesses

Making Socially Responsible Public Procurement Work: 71 Good Practice Cases 

Women in Procurement: Gender Parity is a Key to Better Performance 

Policy Spotlight on Procurement

 

THE EVENT

Procurement, whether public or private procurement, is a cornerstone of effective supply chain management. It is about selecting relevant vendors and suppliers, and purchasing their goods, services and work, vital to the organization.

By adopting inclusive procurement practices (in both public and private sector) and buying from gender-responsive companies such as Women's Empowerment Principles signatories, companies can increase their profitability, expand their global markets, boost their brand loyalty and reputation and diversify their supply chains while contributing to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Moreover, women suppliers have a unique understanding of the women’s market and experience selling to other women, which can benefit corporations in the near term. Increasing gender diversity in the supply chain also improves community relations, maximizes the potential leveraging with community engagement programmes and increases the reputational gains.

Billions of people are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, setting off an unprecedented global health crisis. Behind the fight to save lives, there is another crisis unfolding for public and private sectors representatives who are scrambling to get life-saving health supplies and keep society running as lockdown measures came into force worldwide. When essential items are scarce and time is of the essence, inclusive, open and accountable procurement becomes an even more important safeguard. 

The webinar will showcase public and private sectors role in following the gender-responsive procurement practices in times of COVID-19. The panelists will speak about practical policies, practices and services that companies could develop, implement and practice to help in the procurement responses.

 

REGISTER TO ATTEND THE WEBINAR 

 

Calling all @WEPrinciples companies to join #WeEmpower of #EU, @UN_Women & @ilo for a webinar on gender-responsive procurement amid #COVID19:

📅 18 June 2020
🕙 9am EDT
✏️ https://t.co/U8kJozikNq pic.twitter.com/VxnXK9Bv27

— Empower Women (@Empower_Women) June 14, 2020

PROGRAMME:

Gender Responsive Public Procurement in the EU Directives - Anna Lupi, Legal and Policy Officer, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Responsible purchasing practices in times of COVID-19 – private sector role - Stephanie Luong, Vice President for Public Affairs, Amfori

Q&A Session

UN Women work on stimulating equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs through gender responsive procurement: overview - Anna Gollub, Policy Analyst, Economic Empowerment Section, UN Women

 

Anna Fälth, Manager, WE EMPOWER G7 Programme and Head, Women’s Empowerment Principles Secretariat, UN Women

 

Anna Fälth manages the EU-funded programme “WE EMPOWER through responsible business conduct in G7 countries”. As such, Anna heads the Secretariat of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), EmpowerWomen.org, that promotes online collaboration, learning and innovation to advance women’s economic empowerment across the world; and the WeLearn, a virtual skills school that will tackle some of the skills gaps faced by women and girls for the jobs of the future. An economist, Anna has more than 20 years of experience as economic advisor within the UN system, including UNCTAD, UN-DESA, UNDP and UN Women.

 

Anna Lupi, Legal and Policy Officer, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission 

Anna Lupi has been working in DG GROW on public procurement law and policy for 5 years. She is in charge of the Commission’s policy on socially responsible public procurement, coordinating awareness-raising initiatives and the creation of support tools for public buyers. She has also dealt with a number of EU Member States as a desk officer. Prior to joining the Commission, she worked in Brussels on issues related to the EU internal market and to fundamental rights. She holds a law degree and an LL.M. in Public International Law.

Stéphanie Luong, Vice President - Public Affairs, amfori

Stéphanie Luong is the Vice-President of Public Affairs for amfori, the leading business association for open and sustainable trade, which brings together over 2,400 retailers, importers, brands and associations from more than 40 countries. In this position, she leads an integrated team across stakeholder engagement and governmental affairs activities as well as marketing and communications and the governance of the organisation itself. In this role, Stéphanie aligns a diverse portfolio of work against critical business objectives to support amfori and its members to achieve their vision of Trade with Purpose. With 15 years of experience in the association world, Stephanie led several roles in communications, public relations, industry advocacy, governance and organisational transformation before becoming VP Public Affairs.

Anna Gollub, Policy Analyst, Economic Empowerment Section, UN Women

Anna Gollub is a policy analyst specializing in economic institutions in relation to gender equality in employment and entrepreneurship. She was instrumental in the design and operationalization of UN Women’s Flagship Programming Initiative “Stimulating equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs”, which focuses on gender responsive procurement, value chains, business and human rights, and finance. As part of this work, UN Women collaborates with governments, corporations and international organizations on initiatives to increase sourcing from women-owned businesses and from gender-responsive companies.

 

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

COVID-19 and Gender Equality: A Call to Action for the Private Sector

Responsible Purchasing Practices in Times of COVID-19

The Power of Procurement: How to Source from Women-owned Businesses

Making Socially Responsible Public Procurement Work: 71 Good Practice Cases 

Women in Procurement: Gender Parity is a Key to Better Performance 

Policy Spotlight on Procurement

 

 

Promoting Economic Empowerment of Women at Work through Responsible Business Conduct in G7 Countries (WE EMPOWER G7 Programme) is a programme funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UN Women and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The WE EMPOWER G7 Programme convene multistakeholder dialogues in the EU, Canada, Japan and the US to exchange knowledge, experiences, good practices and lessons learned in the context of the changing world of work.