Launch of the Gender-Responsive Procurement Initiative to Accelerate Women's Economic Empowerment in Kenya

In collaboration with the Government of Kenya, UN Women Kenya launched a gender-responsive procurement initiative: the Strategic Partnership Framework (UAE - SPF) Project, to accelerate gender equality and women's economic empowerment. The United Arab Emirates has provided $15 million in funding for the Project.

Women continue to encounter significant challenges in accessing assets and productive resources, finance, education and training, which translates into an overrepresentation of women in low-wage, low-skilled and precarious jobs.

The Project will build on the progress of Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) and other frameworks within the private sector, such as the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), and the UN system. This will ensure that gender-responsive procurement is not only a policy but a practice that delivers a measurable impact in increased incomes and economic empowerment for women. The Project will also engage with government representatives, UN and development agencies, private sector leaders and women-owned / led and gender-responsive businesses to foster commitment and identify best practices to build capacities through AGPO and affirmative procurement in the private sector and the UN system.

“Specifically, the three-year project will strengthen affirmative procurement opportunities within the private sector and the UN system,” Ms. Antonia Ngabala-Sodonon, Country Representative, UN Women Kenya Country Office, explained, “Currently, uptake of this affirmative allocation is at 17 per cent. UN Women continues to work with the Directorate of Public Procurement to increase awareness of AGPO in communities, especially with women, and to strengthen the demand side of AGPO by training Government Procurement Officers. The Project will support women entrepreneurs, promoting access to markets within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with the aim of creating fair and inclusive procurement systems that uplift women and communities.”

 The UAE SPF Project adopts a systematic approach to women’s economic empowerment that promotes job creation and the full realization of women’s rights, agency, leadership and economic autonomy and attainment of decent working conditions free from violence and harassment and tackles discriminatory social and legal norms through policy and programmatic change.

“The launch of the Project provides an opportunity to revitalize our commitments, call for accountability and action from all decision makers as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, a visionary blueprint for achieving gender equality and women and girls’ rights globally,” said Eric Korir, Director of Public Procurement at the National Treasury. “There is need to identify actionable strategies to promote women’s economic empowerment by building capacities and systems that foster gender-responsive procurement from women-owned / led and gender-responsive businesses.”

The Government of the UAE and UN Women under the UAE - UN Women Strategic Partnership Framework 2024 -2027, will focus on accelerating women’s economic empowerment in Africa, including Kenya. This is in line with UN Women’s Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA) on Women and the World of Work. Concrete results in supporting women’s entrepreneurship and decent work will be advanced in Kenya and Chile, as well as at the global level, through promoting gender-responsive procurement in the public and private sectors and fostering enabling markets for women.

“The Project will build on the foundation of AGPO. Through the initiative, the government will be able to strengthen affirmative procurement frameworks, including the private sector and the United Nations system,” said Ms. Grace Wasike, Head of the Gender Department, State Department for Gender, and Affirmative Action.

UN Women Kenya will leverage the public and private procurement processes to create equal opportunities and outcomes for women as business owners, leaders, and workers, while simultaneously contributing to economic growth.