Gender Benchmark

Aim

Gender inequalities persist around the world. Now more than ever, there is a need to close the global gender gap, and we believe companies are uniquely positioned to do so across their entire value chains.

WBA is developing a Gender Benchmark that is fully transparent, comprehensive, publicly available and is aligned with stakeholder expectations. By measuring corporate gender impacts, WBA’s Gender Benchmark aims to accelerate company progress in closing the gender gap. It will enable all stakeholders, from consumers and investors to employees and business leaders, to make informed decisions and encourage stronger corporate action on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Scope

The Gender Benchmark will measure the extent to which companies contribute to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and beyond. It is grounded in key international principles, normative standards and aligns with widely accepted gender frameworks. It looks across the entire value chain for companies, from their workplaces and supply chains to their marketplaces and communities, capturing the most salient gender themes in each context. It takes an industry-specific approach, starting with a spotlight on the apparel industry and includes a robust set of indicators that look beyond corporate policies to assess performance outcomes.

Methodology

Launched in March 2020, the methodology is based on a thorough research and multi-stakeholder engagement process and includes 34 indicators, which are connected to a company’s full value chain.