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Leveraging Public Procurement for WEE

Background

Women’s economic empowerment in India has been significantly hindered by limited access to formal markets, especially in public procurement, a space traditionally dominated by large-scale vendors. Despite a vast network of women-led enterprises (WLEs) formed under various government programs like the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), their inclusion in public supply chains has remained minimal. 

Recognizing the potential of public procurement as a transformative tool, Project Concern International (PCI) India—supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—launched this initiative to unlock gender-inclusive economic opportunities through institutional market access. The project aligns with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by focusing on women as suppliers to government departments and public systems.

Scope of Intervention

The project addresses systemic barriers including:

  • Limited visibility of women-led collectives as legitimate suppliers.
  • Absence of enabling policies across many states.
  • Low readiness of SHG federations and community collectives to meet procurement standards.
  • Skewed market dynamics, with high entry barriers in government contracting processes.

It aims at:

  • Mainstreaming WLEs into state procurement systems.
  • Creating scalable, proven business models for women’s enterprises.
  • Bridging capacity gaps in production, compliance, and quality for public market access.
  • Facilitating replication of successful WLE models by building systems and sharing knowledge with SRLMs and policymakers.

Program Lead & Collaborators

  • Funding Partner: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Key Collaborators:
    • State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra
    • Private Sector Partners – such as Shahi Exports
    • CSR Contributors – such as ZEE Entertainment
    • Technical and Policy Stakeholders

What We Did

The program was delivered in three phases, blending policy engagement, grassroots implementation, and knowledge dissemination:

  1. Landscape Mapping & Best Practice Documentation
    • Nationwide study of existing WLEs involved in public procurement.
    • Developed compendium to support SRLMs in identifying replicable models.
    • Model Development, Prototyping & Scaling: Strengthened existing models like:
      • Didi Ki Rasoi (community kitchens)
      • Nayi Pahal Kits for family planning distribution
      • Apparel production units
      • Developed two new enterprise models like Housekeeping & laundry services and created three playbooks on the various PP models operations and adaptability.
    • Systemic Integration & Digital Tools: Microsite, MIS for procurement tracking through WLEs, and coffee table books

Outcome

  • ₹87 crore procurement orders; projected ₹120 crore
  • 7,685+ full-time jobs created in Bihar and UP; on track to engage 24,250+ women across Bihar, UP, and Maharashtra.
  • WLE members now earn ₹7,500–₹8,000/month, exceeding the target of ₹5,000.
  • Bihar’s Public procurement via WLEs Bihar grew by 700%
  • National procurement via WLEs rose 36% in FY 2023–24