P&G aims high for gender equality

To realise its dreams of an equal world, the Company will source products and services worth USD30 million from women-owned businesses.

In its latest move to promote gender equality, the FMCG giant, Procter & Gamble, has partnered with resource sharing symposium, WEConnect, to promote women-owned enterprises across India. WEConnect is a non-profit organisation that facilitates inclusive and sustainable growth for women-owned businesses.

Al Rajwani, MD & CEO, P&G India subcontinent said, “We believe in the power of diversity because it is the right thing to do for the growth of the business and the communities we operate in. Investing in women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses makes sense for the economy, the community and for us. Our initiative is in line with the Indian government’s efforts to empower women economically. By committing a percentage of our spending to women-owned businesses, we’re not only doing the right thing for the Company, but also being socially responsible. The impact of our spending with women-owned businesses helps to stimulate economic growth in communities that are often overlooked, which in turn, promotes job creation and further opportunities.”

Through this collaboration, at the centre of which will be training and workshops, P&G will train suppliers on the relevance of a supply chain, in which men and women contribute equally. The USD 30 million sourcing will happen over the next three years, and the entire initiative will be in sync with P&G’s commitment to promote gender equality as envisioned by the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Beyond the sourcing part, WEConnect and P&G will organise symposiums across the country to ascertain and solve issues faced by women entrepremeurs, and will help them become aware of ways in which they can grow their businesses, and create a supply chain with diverse demographics.

Apart from India, P&G has rolled out similar programmes in Africa and the Middle East.