Development Business, a program of the outreach division of the United Nations Department of Public Information, is forging more partnerships to help women-owned businesses in developing countries gain more access to procurement opportunities.
Worldwide, women-owned businesses have won only about 1-2 percent of procurement contracts from government and intergovernmental organizations, according to data from U.N. Women. The issue of economic empowerment, particularly what governments can do along with the private sector to help women in developing countries break into the marketplace, has dominated discussions at the ongoing 59th Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York.
One way UNDB is assisting women-owned businesses is through an alliance with the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network.
About the author
Mythili Sampathkumar
Mythili Sampathkumar is a New York-based journalist covering development, the U.N., foreign policy, and U.S. politics. Her work has appeared in outlets like The Independent, LA Times, NBC News, Foreign Policy, Vox, and PRI.
