WE RISE Together programme to boost gender-responsive procurement in Thailand and Viet Nam

The Australian Government in collaboration with UN Women has launched a new programme to tackle gender inequality in procurement systems.

The AUD$2.85-million (USD2.14-million) programme, titled ‘WE RISE Together’, will boost awareness and encourage the adoption of gender-responsive procurement (GRP) in the public and private sectors in Thailand and Viet Nam.

GRP aims to redirect more procurement spend towards women-owned businesses and gender-responsive enterprises. In procurement chains worldwide, women-owned businesses currently secure just one per cent of spending.

“WE RISE Together addresses the structural inequalities faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing procurement markets in Thailand and Viet Nam,” said H.E. Mr. Allan McKinnon, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, at the launch ceremony at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok.

“Today’s ribbon-cutting is about much more than procurement,” said Sarah Knibbs, Officer-in-Charge of UN Women Asia and the Pacific. “It is about institutionalizing policies and processes that support women-owned businesses by strengthening the gender-responsiveness of supply-and demand-side factors and tightening the interconnections between the two,” she added.

The event also featured a reception and photo exhibit to showcase the breadth and depth of the UN Women – Australia partnership. WE RISE Together is funded through the Mekong-Australia Partnership. An AUD$232 million commitment to support the Mekong sub-region’s recovery from COVID-19, including through enhancing economic resilience, integration and development.

This year marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Australia. ‘WE RISE Together’ will contribute to the strength of the bilateral relationship and advance the two countries’ Strategic Partnership, signed in 2020.

Media inquiries:

• Montira Narkvichien
  
  Regional Communications Specialist, UN Women
  
  Email: asiapacific@news.unwomen.org
  
   
• Teeraphong Kunklangdone
  
  Public Diplomacy Manager, Australian Embassy Thailand
  
  Email: teeraphong.kunklangdone@dfat.gov.au

About UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. Learn more at asiapacific.unwomen.org or follow us @unwomenasia

This piece was originally published on UN Women.