DO, in Partnership with the World Bank, to Train 600 Women-Led Businesses in Abuja on Affirmative Procurement

 

DO Take Action, a leading non-profit startup dedicated to mobilizing sustainable development across Africa, in partnership with the World Bank and Young Professional Programme (YPP), officially launched the Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Affirmative Procurement Reforms (SWEEP) training program on July 16, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. This initiative follows a comprehensive needs assessment that revealed the significant challenges faced by women-owned and women-led businesses (WOLBs) in Nigeria, particularly in accessing public procurement opportunities.

Despite women owning 40% of businesses in Nigeria, they remain underrepresented in public procurement. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, public procurement represents a considerable portion of the country’s GDP—between 10-25%—and accounts for up to 50% of government expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa. However, women-led businesses continue to receive a disproportionately small share of these contracts, highlighting a significant barrier to women’s economic equality in Nigeria.

The SWEEP program aims to address this gap by implementing affirmative procurement policies that foster gender equality and empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The program’s focus is on building the capacity of WOLBs in Abuja to access procurement processes while increasing awareness among the private sector about the importance of gender-responsive procurement practices. Additionally, it seeks to enhance public institutions’ capacity to implement these policies effectively.


The SWEEP initiative will deliver targeted training on business skills, financial management, and procurement procedures, equipping women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to participate in larger-scale economic activities. An essential aspect of the program is supporting the formalization and registration of women-led businesses, enabling their full engagement in public procurement.

Key objectives of the program include:

  • Strengthening the capacity of women-led businesses to access procurement opportunities.
  • Raising awareness among private sector leadership about gender-responsive procurement policies and practices.
  • Enhancing the capacity of public institutions to implement affirmative procurement policies through evidence-based dialogues and on-the-job training.

Expected Outcomes
Through SWEEP, women-led businesses will have increased opportunities to access procurement contracts, enhancing their visibility and fostering broader positive impacts on economic empowerment, child health, education, poverty alleviation, and the reduction of gender-based violence. The initiative also aims to advocate for the adoption of these best practices across Nigeria and within the World Bank, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive economic environment for women entrepreneurs.

The program is set to directly benefit over 600 women-led businesses across three cohorts. The pilot training phase begins on November 1, 2024, and registration is currently open. Women entrepreneurs in Abuja are encouraged to register now and join the first cohort.

Program Details for Cohort 1:

Program Starts: November 1, 2024

Location: Abuja, Nigeria 

Who Can Apply: Women-owned and Women-led businesses in Abuja

Duration: 1 month

Mode of Learning: Hybrid (In-person and Online)

Speaking on the initiative, Precious Ebere, Co-Founder of DO Take Action, stated:
“The SWEEP program is designed to increase the participation of women’s small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) in public procurement. Our Theory of Change emphasizes that by enhancing the capacity of WOLBs through targeted training, advocating for gender-responsive procurement policies, and improving access to financial and digital resources, women entrepreneurs will be better equipped to compete in both public and private procurement markets. This will lead to increased contract awards and business growth, empowering women-led businesses and advancing gender equality in the business sector. SWEEP aligns with the World Bank’s economic development plan and will contribute to a more dynamic and inclusive economic environment in Abuja.”

About DO Take Action
DO Take Action is a non-profit startup on a mission to build a critical mass of 1 billion+ people, taking personal and collective action for a better future for Africa and the world, one action and one community at a time. We inspire, empower, and mobilize action for sustainable development. 

Learn more at www.dotakeaction.org. 

About the World Bank
The World Bank is an international development organization owned by 187 countries, dedicated to reducing poverty by lending money to governments to improve their economies and elevate the standard of living for their citizens. 

Learn more at www.worldbank.org.