Outcome NGA_D_2.2

WOBs in Nigeria, have increased capacities (business and financial management and in ICTs) and access to information to benefit from procurement (public and private) opportunities, by 2022

A partnership agreement was concluded between UN Women and the Nigerian Bureau of Public Procurement (a Government institution responsible for regulating, setting the standards, and developing the legal framework of Public Procurement in Nigeria) for providing women-owned MSMEs with insights on the Nigerian Procurement Act and address skills and knowledge gaps in the area of public procurement processes identified from women business owners. In a preliminary assessment conducted by UN Women, result showed that Nigeria was one of the countries with the highest number of female entrepreneurs in the world. However, women-owned businesses had not been able to secure government contracts, suggesting systematic gender disparities in the Nigerian procurement system which accounted for about $5.5 billion annually. The positive correlation between gender equality and the socio-economic environment of the country called for incentives to ensure equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs and their male counterparts. In a session held with women entrepreneurs, BPP training experts presented information on basic bidding requirements to women owners of MSMEs. Through this partnership, the Bureau has committed to continue working with UN Women to advance the affirmative procurement agenda.

WOBs in Nigeria, have increased capacities (business and financial management and in ICTs) and access to information to benefit from procurement (public and private) opportunities, by 2022

UN Women supported product rebranding and repackaging for women MSMEs. one of the issues identified through assessment of product was the poor product packaging and branding of products produced by majority of women entrepreneurs. Most product lack standard labels and business identities. Producers of liquid soap and sanitizers presented their products in water bottles. In view of the gap identified in product branding and packaging, UN Women engaged a brand expert to assess products of women entrepreneurs and provide professional advice on the best way to package and brand the products to meet global market standard. New brand identifies (business logos) and labels were created for the 63 women entrepreneurs. UN Women also committed to providing proper packaging bottles for producers of liquid soaps and sanitizers as majority were selling in bottles not meant for other purposes. Women Entrepreneurs have been selected to receive production inputs and materials for the production of lab coats, hospital scrub, liquid soap and hand sanitizers in large quantities. Items procured for distribution to women producers of PPEs includes 130 yards of Gabardine cotton fabric for medical scrubs and lab coats, chemicals for the production of hand sanitizers as well as alcohol meter for measuring the quantity of alcohol during the production of hand sanitizers among other materials. It is expected that the materials will be able to produce up to 20 dozen of products when utilized. This is to ensure that products are readily available to meet institutional procurement opportunities. The Honorable Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen was on ground to symbolize the official flag off for distribution of procured materials in Abuja. It is worthy to note that UN Women Nigeria has set out to ensure an increase in the number of women vendors in its procurement platform, UN Women recently awarded a contract of about 40,000 USD to a woman owned entrepreneur. Also 25 women entrepreneurs have been registered on UN Women procurement platform as the first step towards benefiting from any procurement opportunities at UN Women.