Ngoneh Panneh, the senior ITC coordinator at the International Trade Centre (ITC), has said empowering women through trade is not charity, it is smart economics.
Madam Panneh was speaking during the launching of the private sector coalition for gender equality campaign and the guidelines on public procurement for women-led businesses in The Gambia.
The ceremony was held recently at the International Trade Centre office in Bakau.
“As we gather to launch the Private Sector Coalition for Gender Equality Campaign and the Guidelines on Public Procurement for Women-led Businesses in The Gambia, we reaffirm our collective commitment to breaking barriers, expanding opportunities, and ensuring an inclusive economy for all,” she said.
However, she further said, despite the strides they have made, the numbers remain stark. “Globally, up to 40% of a country’s GDP is spent on public procurement, yet only 1% of these contracts go to women-led businesses,” she informed. “But we do not ask why only 1% – not because we are unfamiliar with the barriers, but because we know our worth.”
She indicated that women manage the most complex enterprise every single day at the homes – a space where emotions, culture, philosophy, and negotiations unfold by the minute, she said. “And we do this while excelling in the workplace, building businesses, and navigating demanding social lives.”
The ITC coordinator said they had developed policies, built capacity, and created networks to connect women-led businesses with public procurement opportunities. “But the work does not stop here,” she added.
According to her, the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Gender, the UNDP, the UNFPA, Business Support Organizations, and the Women’s Business Advocacy Group (WBAG) have been leading efforts since 2020 to bridge the gap in women-led businesses.
She explained that the realization led to the launch of the Joint Global Campaign on Gender-Responsive Public Procurement (GRPP) by UN Women and ITC in March 2024 during CSW 68, a campaign to which The Gambia has proudly pledged its support.
However, she said, the public procurement alone is not enough. “We call on the private sector to take deliberate action to make gender-inclusive procurement a standard practice and to open more doors for women entrepreneurs,” she urged.
Ndey Rose Sarr, UNFPA country representative to The Gambia, in her remarks, acknowledged the crucial role businesses can play not just in providing life-saving healthcare, but in creating economic opportunities that empower women to reach their full potential.
“By championing women’s health and rights, and by strategically investing in women-led businesses, we are co-creating a future where communities are not only stronger and more resilient, but where businesses themselves thrive in a truly sustainable and equitable ecosystem,” she said.
She further said: “This campaign is a testament to our collective vision: a world where every woman has access to the quality healthcare she deserves, where women-owned businesses flourish, and where the private sector stands as a powerful force for good, building an inclusive and just society for all.”
She emphasised that these Guidelines on Procurement are not simply suggestions; they are a roadmap for action. “They are a call to businesses to actively seek out and prioritize women-led enterprises, creating pathways to economic empowerment and driving meaningful change within their own operations.”
