At the start of day two of the World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC) APAC Summit in Melbourne, and ahead of the 13th Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in the Bahamas on 21 - 23 August, the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN) and WorldCC Foundation have today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to foster cooperation in advancing the business opportunities and professional development of women’s business enterprises globally, and to advance the adoption of gender responsive procurement and sustainable contracting practices within the Commonwealth.

Both organizations recently convened at a roundtable at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth Headquarters in London, bringing together Commonwealth Governments, Commonwealth accredited organizations and the Commonwealth Secretariat on ‘Gender Responsive Procurement: a Commonwealth Agenda’. The collaboration between CBWN and WorldCC Foundation was initiated here with the intention of being coalesced around existing and new initiatives, particularly in the context of the economic empowerment of women.

The objectives of this collaboration include:

1. To bring together key stakeholders to enhance sustainable and inclusive contracting practices and empower women in trade;
2. To raise awareness and promoting Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP) through education and existing tools; and
3. Empowering women in trade through education and training initiatives.

To achieve these objectives, WorldCC Foundation aims to raise the level of commercial awareness globally by providing thousands of women across the Commonwealth with free access to their online Commercial Awareness Program, as well as Contract Design Pattern Library, and Contracting Principles.  Additionally, they will collaborate on global webinars and major events, such as World Sustainable Contracting Day, to promote Gender Responsive Procurement and Contracting.

Freda Miriklis, Chair of CBWN shares: “CBWN's strategic partnership with the WorldCC Foundation makes clear the message to women, the private sector, and Governments in the Commonwealth that gender-responsive procurement and contracting together can play a significant and largely untapped role in advancing gender equality, empowering women, and fostering inclusive economic growth. Never more true. Never more needed.'

Sally Guyer, CEO of WorldCC and the WorldCC Foundation adds: “At WorldCC Foundation and CBWN, we know that embracing gender-responsive procurement and contracting can pave the way for unparalleled progress in achieving gender equality. The time for this transformative approach has never been more opportune, and its significance has never been greater."

This partnership was announced to attendees at WorldCC’s APAC Summit in Melbourne this week, where the news was met with excitement and enthusiasm. The upcoming 13th Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting (13WAMM) of the Commonwealth in the Bahamas will further promote this collaboration. CBWN will introduce its collaboration with WorldCC Foundation to Commonwealth Governments and other stakeholders and invite them to support women’s economic empowerment through gender responsive procurement and sustainable contracting practices.