Methodology

The Methodology for the 2020 Gender Benchmark Baseline Assessment and the 2021 Gender Benchmark

Gender inequalities persist around the globe. 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.

While there are a growing number of resources available to support companies in their push for gender equality and women’s empowerment, stakeholders are still looking for more. Some want more and better data – focusing on the supply chain, on women’s health (including sexual and reproductive health) and on company practices and performance rather than on high-level commitments. Others want greater transparency overall. All stakeholders, including companies, would benefit from greater alignment on how to best measure gender equality and women’s empowerment in the corporate context.

WBA aims to address these stakeholder needs with its Gender Benchmark, an in-depth evaluation of companies on gender equality and women’s empowerment that will be free and available to all. This benchmark aligns with and builds on leading gender initiatives, while also offering more comprehensive data and greater transparency, in line with stakeholders’ expectations.

This benchmark will begin by assessing companies in the apparel industry and is part of WBA’s wider effort to measure and rank the 2,000 most influential companies in the world across seven systems transformations needed to achieve the SDGs. This includes assessing all 2,000 companies on social inclusion, of which gender is a core part.

This report presents the final methodology of the Gender Benchmark, the result of a year and a half of intensive research and consultation with experts. The first public ranking of companies, as well as the results from the first application of this methodology, will be published in 2021.

Methodology in English

Methodology in Mandarin

This questionnaire is based on the methodology above and will be used to gather company data for the Gender Benchmark.

Questionnaire in English

Questionnaire in Mandarin

For more information on the Gender Benchmark, please contact us at info.gender@worldbenchmarkingalliance.org.

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