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CONTENTS Foreword Acknowledgements Abbreviations Executive summary Promoting gender equality is ‘smart economics’ Public procurement – a powerful tool Defining and understanding the target community A checklist for action Stimulating entrepreneurial activity Capacity-building programmes Measuring progress towards policy objectives
v vii xii xiii xiii xiii xiv xiv xv xvii xvii
Chapter 1
Public procurement, a tool to shape societies Why government purchasing affects markets
1 2
Competition laws and social regulations shape markets
2
Purchasing is worth 10–40% of GDP
3
Public procurement for women – ‘smart economics’ Support women, boost national competitiveness
Policies must be gender sensitive About this guide
3 3 4 5
Chapter 2
Public procurement systems An overview of the process Acquisition planning Source selection
Contract administration
Policy objectives Principles guiding procurement systems Making trade-offs Stakeholders
7 8 9 9 10 10 11 13 14
Chapter 3
Laying the groundwork to support women-owned businesses Defining women-owned businesses Defining company size
15 16 17