The World Bank has joined forces with DO Take Action, a prominent non-profit startup dedicated to sustainable development in Africa, to launch an innovative initiative aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Precious Ebere, Co-Founder of DO Take Action, announced the initiative on Thursday, highlighting its significance in promoting economic growth and gender equality.
Officially unveiled on July 16, 2024, in Abuja, the Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Affirmative Procurement Reforms (SWEEP) training program addresses the considerable barriers that women-owned and women-led businesses face in accessing public procurement opportunities. Ebere noted that while women own 40% of businesses in Nigeria, they remain significantly underrepresented in public procurement, a sector that is crucial for economic growth and development.
According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, public procurement represents 10-25% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and nearly 50% of government expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this substantial economic influence, women-led businesses continue to receive a disproportionately small share of contracts. The SWEEP program seeks to correct this imbalance by implementing affirmative procurement policies that promote gender equality and enhance women’s participation in the economic sphere.
Ebere elaborated on the program’s objectives, stating, “The SWEEP program is designed to increase the participation of women’s small and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement.” The initiative will offer targeted training in essential business skills, financial management, and procurement processes, as well as help formalize and register women-led businesses to facilitate their involvement in public contracts. The program aims to directly benefit over 600 women-led businesses across three cohorts, with the first training phase scheduled to begin on November 1, 2024.
By raising awareness among private sector leaders about gender-responsive procurement practices, SWEEP aims to bolster the capacity of public institutions to implement these policies effectively. Ebere confirmed that the program will adopt a hybrid learning mode, combining in-person and online instruction over a month-long period. Women entrepreneurs in Abuja are encouraged to seize this transformative opportunity, which is expected to lead to increased access to procurement contracts, greater market visibility, and broader positive impacts on economic empowerment, education, and poverty alleviation. As Ebere stated, “SWEEP aligns with the World Bank’s economic development plan and will contribute to a more dynamic and inclusive economic environment in Abuja.”
