Driving an Inclusive and Diverse Supply Chain: Celebrating achievements and looking forward

Corporate Procurement gathered experts and leaders from the international organizations and the private sector to talk about the advances the WBG had made in narrowing gender disparities in its supplier base. Participants learned about the WBG’s achievement in surpassing the goal of doubling corporate procurement with women-owned businesses and heard firsthand of their commitment to extend the goal to reach 12 percent by 2030, all while shaping the future of the program to realign with the 2030 Gender Strategy.

During this event, the World Bank discussed the important role of procurement in promoting gender equality and economic empowerment for women. The forum served as a platform to discuss procurement's impact on gender equality, share the WBG's achievements in surpassing its target of doubling corporate procurement from women-owned businesses, and set forth the 2030 goals for the supplier diversity & inclusion program. Participants heard from experts strategies for strengthening private sector partnerships and fostering collective action with international peers to enhance the participation of women-owned and diverse suppliers in procurement processes.

9:30 - 10:00 AM	Morning coffee
10:00 - 10:10 AM	Opening remarks Hana Brixi, Global Director for Gender, The World Bank
10:10 - 10:20 AM	Transformation through Supplier Diversity & Inclusion: The case of South Africa Ayanda Dlodlo, Executive Director, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, The World Bank
10:20 - 10:50 AM	Empowering Change: Procurement as a Catalyst for Development, Gender Equality, and Women's Economic Opportunities This session will discuss the critical role of procurement in addressing gender inequalities and supporting economic growth and development of women-owned businesses. Speakers will explore the business case for supplier diversity & inclusion, exchange the importance for the WBG to “walk the talk” through its procurement practices and address how promoting inclusive sourcing across the WBG supply chain aligns to the new WBG Gender Strategy. Panelists:  Hana Brixi, Global Director for Gender  Nathalie Akon Gabala, Director, IFC Gender and Economic Inclusion Leslie Elizabeth Harper, Gender Mainstreaming Coordinator, IDB Moderator:  Monica Oldham, Manager, WBG Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office
10:50 - 11:15 AM	From Vision to Impact: Reflecting on 5 Years of Supplier Diversity & Inclusion at the WBG and Charting the Path Ahead This session will share results and lessons learned from the supplier diversity & inclusion initiatives at the WBG over the past five years and showcase the collective efforts of staff across the WBG who contributed to surpassing the 2023 goal by more than doubling corporate procurement with women-owned businesses. Corporate Procurement will also highlight new implementation practices to achieve the objectives and goals of the program for 2030. Speakers:  Kenny Cheung, Chief of Corporate Procurement, World Bank Group   Adam Rubinfield, Head of ESG, Corporate Procurement, World Bank Group Guest: Jorge Dajani Gonzalez, Director, Global Corporate Solutions Guest: Elizabeth Kibirige Namugenyi, Director, Budget & Business Administration, IFC
11:15 - 11:25 AM	Celebrating Excellence: Global Champion Award Ceremony for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion The WBG will be recognized and presented the award as a Platinum Top Global Champion on supplier diversity & inclusion by WEConnect International. Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder, WEConnect International
11:25 - 11:30 AM	Closing remarks