
Gender Benchmark
The Gender Benchmark assesses and compares how companies are driving and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment across their entire value chain.
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.

Assessing the gender impacts of the world’s 36 most influential apparel companies
Gender baseline reportMilestones
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Scoping report
September 2018
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Methodology report
March 2020
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Launch baseline report
September 2020
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Launch gender benchmark
2021
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.
Read the scoping reportMethodology
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.
Read the methodology reportExpert Review Committee
The Gender Benchmark is developed in close collaboration with an Expert Review Committee (ERC), which members support the core team with their expertise and experience.
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Bonnie Chiu
Managing Director, The Social Investment Consultancy
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Brian Heilman
Senior Research Officer, Promundo
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Carmen Niethammer
Former Program Manager – Women in Work, International Finance Corporation
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David Wofford
Interim Director - Private Sector Action for Women's Health and Empowerment, UNF
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Diana Gutierrez
Manager – Global Programme on Business for Gender Equality, UN Development Programme
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Lauren Gula
Senior Manager – Social Sustainability & Gender Equality, UN Global Compact
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Magali Barraja
Former Associate Director – Women’s Empowerment, BSR
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Subhalakshmi Nandi
Senior Program Officer, Gender Equality - India, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Get involved
As we build our Gender Benchmark, we continue to engage with stakeholders across the globe through targeted communications with key organisations and representatives. We also encourage meaningful and constructive feedback. To learn more or share your thoughts, please contact
