Hanson harps on institutionalizing gender-responsive procurement

…As only 1% of women is said to play in the procurement space in Nigeria

Edughom Hanson, CEO of Rivulet Solutions Limited, has moved for institutionalizing gender-responsive procurement as a step toward what she called affirmative procurement.

Hanson was one of the delegates from Rivers State that attended the SWEEAP (Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement) Close-Out Ceremony in Abuja.

SWEEAP is indicated as a strategic intervention designed to advance women’s economic inclusion by increasing the participation of Women-Owned and Led Businesses (WOLBs) in public procurement systems.

The initiative focuses on policy advocacy, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement to promote gender-responsive procurement practices. Through these efforts, SWEEAP aims to create a more inclusive, transparent, and equitable procurement ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth and women’s empowerment.

Rivulet Solutions Limited, a woman-owned and led business focused on enterprise support, human capital development and sustainable energy solutions, was one of the participants of the reform training and is positioned to bid for and implement projects for organizations/companies in the public and private sectors.

Statistics have shown that in Nigeria, only 1% of women play in the public procurement space.

This can be attributed to a lot of factors especially general phobia for venturing into the space.

With continuous capacity building and exposure to public and private procurement practices, Hansom says WOLBs will build the courage and resilience to venture and thrive in both public and private procurement.

The CEO commended the role played by Chevening Alumni Association Nigeria (CAAN), DO Take Action, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have played in spearheading this course through the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund. She also commended the SWEEAP Close Out Ceremony being hosted by the British High Commissioner, with the British Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever (OBE) in attendance.

She said a required action now is to institutionalize Gender-Responsive Procurement with the Public Procurement Act amended to provide for a minimum of 30% of all public procurement reserved for WOLBs. Rivulet Solutions Limited applauds the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement (RSBoPP) for their support through the course of the SWEEAP Reform Training and participation. She equally commended a list of other very strategically important persons.

Hansom said: “The journey has just began and Rivulet Solutions Limited calls on all forward thinking institutions, individuals and economic development enthusiasts to contribute to the actualization of Gender-Responsive Procurement as this will aid in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 8 – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and also change the narrative in public procurement.

“This call is coming at no better time than when the International Women’s Day is being celebrated, with the theme – Give to Gain. It is time to give to this course, the gains will speak loud.

“Some countries of note that Institutionalized Affirmative Procurement can speak to the gains.

These countries include – South Africa ( Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) 2000, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (BBBEE)2003 ); United State – (Small Business Act (SBA)1953 and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)); Rwanda – (Sustainable Public Procurement Policy (SPP) 2024) to mention a few.

Lessons can be learnt from Rwanda’s implementation of her SPP 2024 – procurement is aligned with Rwanda’s long-term development goals (Vision 2050 & National Strategy for Transformation (NST1)) emphasizing inclusivity and sustainability.

“Also, the Social Inclusion Measures adopted – women-owned businesses are encouraged to participate in tenders, with training and capacity-building support; youth enterprises are given opportunities to access contracts, especially in ICT and innovation sectors and SMEs & cooperatives enjoy from preference given to local suppliers to strengthen domestic industries.”