Gender in practice

Companies can use various levers to promote gender equity in their supply chains. These should always be considered in relation to the respective context, region, and specific supply chain. The following overview shows possible fields of action, which can then be further developed according to the context and the supply chain.

Directly to Gender Tools

Fields of action

It is important to consider the context for all fields of action. This often involves specifically addressing men and local community structures to increase acceptance.

From sustainable palm oil to sustainable landscapes: The member project of the Forum Nachhaltiges Palmöl e.V. (FONAP) in Indonesia

In cooperation with the Indonesian Palm Oil Forum for Smallholder Farmers FORTASBI and the Indonesian NGOs Setara-Jambi and CAPPA, 27 members of FONAP have been working in the largest palm oil producing country since March 2022. The project aims to support smallholder farmers in operating more sustainably in their palm oil production and beyond. The project pursues both ecological and social goals.

Goal: From sustainable palm oil to sustainable landscapes

When:

• March 2022 until February 2023 (Phase 1)

• September 2023 until September 2024 (Phase 2)

Who: Cooperation with the indonesian palm oil forum for smallholders FORTASBI in collaboration with the local NGOs Setara-Jambi and CAPPA and involvement of Koltiva in Phase 2.

Where: Tanjung Jabung Barat and Tebo (buffer zone to the Bukit Tiga Puluh national parc), Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia

Gender equality in the FONAP Member Project

GrowHer:Kakao

GrowHer: Kakao focusses on improving the rights of women and girls, strengthening their representation in the cocoa supply chain, and providing resources and training for 4,000 women smallholders and entrepreneurs.

When: 01.12.2022–31.03.2026

Who: Grow Asia, together with Mars, Save the Children, Partnership for Indonesia's Sustainable Agriculture (PISAgro) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Where: South Sulawesi and north and east of Luwu, Indonesia

Gender equality in GrowHer:Kakao

Sustainability and value creation in agricultural supply chains in Ethiopia (SUVASE)

An integrated development partnership between ECOM-Agroindustrial and GIZ for a sustainable coffee supply chain in Ethiopia.

When: 01.09.2022–31.12.2024

Who: ECOM-Agroindustrial and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Where: Alle and Becho districts in the Illubabor zone and Mana district in the Jimma zone in the Oromia region of Ethiopia

Gender equality in SUVASE

A group of women participating in trainings © Malavika/OLAM

Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE)

An innovation partnership between OLAM Agri, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and UN Women and GIZ to promote climate-sensitive and gender-transformative rice farming practices in India. Premium prices for the sustainable rice and/or revenues from carbon credits shall provide incentives for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for (women) smallholder farmers.

When: December 2022 – May 2026

Who: Olam Agri, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), UN Women and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Where: India; Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh

Gender in CORE

Empowering Women in Côte d'Ivoire's Cocoa Sector: A Gender Transformative Initiative

The GATA project is transforming the role of women in Côte d'Ivoire’s cocoa by improving their leadership and decision-making skills. The project intends to create economic empowerment and modify cultural norms by incorporating gender-inclusive approaches such as the Women's School of Leadership and village savings organizations.

When: Since 2016

Who: Fairtrade Africa (FTA)

Where: Côte d'Ivoire

Empowering Women in Côte d'Ivoire's Cocoa Sector

Gender Tools

Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

Author/Developer: UN Women & UN Global Compact
Target group: Companies
Goal: Holistic toolkit for companies to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women in the workplace, in their supply chains and in society.

To the tool

Gender Gap Analysis Tool (Part of the WEPs)

Author/Developer: UN Global Compact, UN Women, Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Invest (2020)
Target group: Companies
Goals:

Identification of company performance, gaps, and opportunities around gender equality
Presentation of best practices

To the tool

Gender-Responsive Procurement Assessment Tool (Part of the WEPs)

Author/Developer: UN Women in consultation with companies from Asia, the Pacific and the EU (2023)
Target group: Companies
Goals:

Analysing progress on corporate policies and practices for gender-responsive procurement
Identification of gaps and opportunities for improvement

To the tool

Toolbox_Tool_4_Gender_Equality_Playbook_for_Business.png

Gender Equality Playbook for Business. A toolkit for the private sector on achieving global gender equality by 2030.

Author/Developer: CARE International
Target group: Companies
Goals:

Supporting companies to advance SDG5 (gender equality) as part of the 2030 Agenda
Presentation of different fields of action in which companies can engage for gender equality

To the playbook

IDH Gender Toolkit

Author/Developer: IDH
Target group: Companies and supply chain actors
Goals:

Presentation of the business case for gender
6-step roadmap for integrating gender aspects into supply chain approaches/projects

To the tool

Gender Equity Index

Author/Developer: Equal Origins
Target group: Companies that offer advisory and extension services for smallholder farmers and producer organisations
Goals:

Self-assessment of corporate practices and performance from a gender perspective
Identification of opportunities
Equal Origins offers follow-up advisory

To the tool

Gender Transformative Tracker Tool

Author/Developer: International Coffee Organisation (ICO) & Oxfam Business Advisory Services
Target group: ICO, companies, civil society and public stakeholders in the coffee sector
Goals:

Stocktaking and presentation of gaps and opportunities around gender
Presentation of example measures to strengthen activities, strategies, or proposals in the coffee sector from a gender perspective

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Gender-Inclusion Self-Assessment Tool

Author/Developer: Value for Women, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, Walmart Foundation
Target group: Companies in the agricultural and food sector
Goals:

Analysing gender integration in different areas of the company
Presentation of recommendations/options for action on how companies can promote gender integration across their business areas

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Toolbox_Tool_9_Reaching_and_Empowering_Women_with_Digital_Solutions.png

Reaching and Empowering Women with Digital Solutions in the agricultural last mile

Author/Developer: GSMA (2022)
Target group: Donors, investors in the agricultural sector
Goals:

Analysis of women's limitations and barriers to participation in digitalised agricultural supply chains
Identification and recommendation of best practices to promote their participation

To the guide

Toolbox_Tool_10_Integrating_a_gender_perspective_in_supply_chain_due_diligence.png

Integrating a gender perspective into supply chain due diligence

Author/developer: OECD & FAO (2021)
Target group: Companies in the agricultural and food sector
Goal: To illustrate how companies can integrate a gender perspective into their due diligence activities along a 5-step process

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SheDil

Author/Developer: Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS) with the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Target group: Companies (e.g. in the agricultural sector)
Goals:

Supporting companies to integrate the gender dimension into their due diligence processes
Provision of a step-by-step, sector-specific roadmap with concrete recommendations

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Gender-Responsive Due Diligence Platform

Author/Developer: Women Win, Plan International Netherlands and Partnering for Social Impact with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Target group: Companies with international supply chains as well as suppliers and low-tier buyers
Goals:

Consolidation of a variety of materials, examples, and tools on gender-responsive due diligence (GRDD) and its practical implementation
Orientation of companies in the implementation of GRDD
Provision of a self-assessment test for companies

To the platform

To the self-assessment

Gender Data Indicators

Author/Developer: Ethical Trade Initiative, BSR, Fair Wear Foundation, Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garments and Textiles
Target group: Companies in the agricultural and food sector
Goals:

Supporting companies to collect more and better gender-disaggregated data on their supply chains in a 3-step process
Consideration of gender-disaggregated data as an integral part of risk analyses and monitoring

To the guide

Decent Work Toolkit for Sustainable Procurement – Gender Modul

Author/Developer: UN Global Compact
Target group: Companies
Goals:

Presentation of why Decent Work is relevant and how the implementation of Decent Work can be promoted
Presentation of the relevance of gender aspects through a gender module

To the tool

Gender-based violence in global supply chains: Resource kit

Author/Developer: Fear Wear Foundation and International Labour Organization (ILO)
Target group: Companies, employers, trade unions and other stakeholders in supply chains
Goals:

Raising awareness of the causes and effects of gender-based violence – including on business efficiency
Support companies and other stakeholders to combat gender-based violence and discrimination in their supply chains
Compilation of background information, expert material, case studies and practical strategies to overcome gender-based violence against women workers

To the resource kit

Gender in practice

Fields of action

Land rights

Organisations

Labour force

Training and extension services

Digital technologies

Income and financial inclusion

Internal business practices

From sustainable palm oil to sustainable landscapes: The member project of the Forum Nachhaltiges Palmöl e.V. (FONAP) in Indonesia

GrowHer:Kakao

Sustainability and value creation in agricultural supply chains in Ethiopia (SUVASE)

Carbon Offsetting Rice Emissions (CORE)

Empowering Women in Côte d'Ivoire's Cocoa Sector: A Gender Transformative Initiative

Gender Tools

General / wide-ranging tools

Focus on agriculture & agricultural supply chains

Focus on due diligence & decent work

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