Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026 and the power of procurement in advancing gender equality

As a female-founded, female-led organization, givvable is proud to be celebrating International Women’s Day this Sunday, 8 March.

A key way that businesses and governments can drive gender equality is through their buying decisions, including purchasing from women-owned businesses and suppliers advancing gender equality.

Women-owned businesses make significant contributions to the economy, with women representing nearly 35% of all business operators in Australia (ASBFEO; EGC). Purchasing from women-owned businesses:

• Builds supply chain resilience, supports social procurement objectives, and can enhance innovation and brand reputation
• Supports women’s economic empowerment and workforce participation, and advances gender equality
• Creates broader benefits for the economy and communities

While many governments and businesses have already put in place gender equality commitments or procurement targets, more can be done. givvable’s toolkit enables you to do this with ease, automating identification of existing and potential suppliers’ relevant credentials.

Women-owned business & Gender Equality credentials

These are just a few of the credentials we can help to identify for you:

1. WEConnect certified business: These businesses are certified by WEConnect as being at least 51% owned, managed and independently controlled by a woman, or a group of women. Businesses that meet these criteria can also apply to be WEConnect registered businesses.
2. Female Owned Business certified: Businesses that are at least 51% female owned can register to become Female Owned Business certified with Female Owned, a female-owned social enterprise based in Melbourne.
3. Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice citation holders have made gender equality an integral component of their workplaces and business practices and are taking significant action towards improving gender equality outcomes.
4. Family Inclusive Workplace certified organizations are certified by Family Friendly Workplaces as meeting the minimum requirements of the National Work & Family Standards developed by Parents At Work and UNICEF Australia.
5. Work180 Endorsed Employer Australia are companies operating in Australia that have completed an intersectional DEI assessment and have been assessed as meeting WORK180’s minimum criteria, including in relation to paid parental leave and flexible working arrangements.

Start searching suppliers with these attributes using VET, givvable’s search & discovery tool. Get started for free, or upgrade to access deeper insights for reporting and tracking.

How givvable can help?

• VET: Quickly and efficiently search and discover women-owned businesses and suppliers advancing gender equality and inclusion to advance and diversify your supplier network and meet your gender equality objectives.
• SCREEN: Evaluate your current suppliers to identify women-owned businesses and those contributing to, or supporting, gender equality. Utilize our customizable Supplier Diversity and Social Procurement module to track and report your engagement with women-owned (and other diverse-owned) businesses.
• ENGAGE: Engage suppliers via our free Supplier Engagement Portal. Suppliers can self-identify as women-owned and access tools and benefits to help them get formal recognition of their attributes, including with leading global certifier, WEConnect International.