For women-owned businesses, government procurement can be a market as important as retail or corporate supply chains. Yet the International Trade Centre (ITC) says women-led firms receive only about 1% of government contracts. A policy shift underway in Nigeria—and similar measures elsewhere—raises a practical question for Pakistani entrepreneurs: how can a small business become ready to bid?
Nigeria says its policy is being implemented
On June 24, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information said the federal government was implementing an Affirmative Procurement Policy for women-owned enterprises. The statement came as Nigeria launched its Gender Profile and Roadmap to Equality 2030, placing procurement among a wider set of women’s economic empowerment measures.
An earlier government briefing from February described the policy’s proposed tools: reserving a minimum share of contracts for target groups, giving them an additional scoring margin in bid evaluation, asking large contractors to subcontract portions of work, and allowing smaller suppliers to combine capacity through joint bids. The public announcements cited here do not specify a women-only percentage or publish results, so the policy should be understood as an implementation direction—not proof that a stated target has already been achieved.
A wider move from promises to procurement rules
The ITC’s April 2026 update describes government buyers in several countries changing how tenders are designed. It reports that the Dominican Republic’s 2025 reform reserves 10% of public procurement for women-led businesses as part of a broader small-business allocation. Ecuador has added preferential treatment and standard definitions for women-owned firms. Bangladesh’s rules set aside 25% of procurement budgets across small businesses, women-owned businesses and new enterprises; that is a combined allocation, not a women-only quota.
The details differ, but the policy choices matter: a buyer can define eligible firms clearly, divide oversized tenders into manageable lots, adjust evaluation criteria, and make bid information easier to find. These measures do not guarantee a contract. They can, however, make it more feasible for smaller suppliers to compete on the terms set out in a tender.
Why women-owned firms can be screened out
The ITC’s gender-responsive procurement campaign identifies bundled contracts, complex procedures, financing constraints and limited access to information or networks as barriers. A small company may be able to provide a service or product but lack the working capital, paperwork or delivery capacity to take on a large contract. The practical response is not to bid on every notice. It is to match the offer to a contract the business can fulfill, price the full delivery cost and understand the buyer’s requirements before committing.
What Pakistani businesses can do now
Nigeria’s policy does not change Pakistan’s procurement rules. But Pakistan’s federal Public Procurement Regulatory Authority provides a concrete starting point: its official site links to EPADS, vendor registration and procurement notices, and lists separate provincial procurement authorities. The EPADS portal also lets users choose among federal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan jurisdictions. Firms should use the portal and rules relevant to the actual procuring agency rather than assume one process covers every tender.
A useful preparation routine is to register through the official vendor channel, monitor notices that match the firm’s capacity, and read each solicitation for its eligibility, technical specifications, bid security, delivery schedule and submission deadline. Keep company records, pricing and evidence of past work organized, but submit only the documents a particular notice requires. If a contract is too large, explore joint bidding only when the procurement rules permit it. Registration opens access to notices; it does not guarantee selection.
For chambers of commerce and policymakers, the international examples point to a broader agenda: publish clear definitions of women-owned firms, make opportunities easier to search, track who bids and wins, and consider whether contract lots are sized so smaller suppliers can participate. Any such change in Pakistan would need to be confirmed through the relevant procurement authority and formal rules.
The opportunity is not a shortcut around competition. It is a reminder that public purchasing rules shape who gets the chance to compete. Women entrepreneurs who build tender-readiness now can be better positioned if inclusive procurement measures expand in Pakistan or if they pursue eligible public opportunities already listed in their jurisdiction.
Sources
- International Trade Centre, “ITC SheTrades wins award for opening public markets to women” (8 April 2026)
- International Trade Centre and UN Women, Global Campaign on Gender-Responsive Public Procurement
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Nigeria, “FG Launches Nigeria Gender Profile and Roadmap to Equality 2030” (24 June 2026)
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Nigeria, “Nigeria Takes Steps Towards Inclusive Procurement” (13 February 2026)
- Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Pakistan
- E-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System (EPADS), Pakistan
Muhammad Nayab Khan is a visionary leader, serial entrepreneur, and financial consultant with over a decade of professional experience in enterprise development, corporate branding, and digital infrastructure. Holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the University of the Punjab, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Qashqar Pakistan and Pamir Network, while actively contributing as an Executive Body Member for the Chitral Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
As a certified QuickBooks Accountant and seasoned trainer, Nayab is deeply passionate about bridging the gap between traditional business operations and modern digital solutions. He has spearheaded numerous capacity-building and technical financial digitizing workshops, training enterprises and entrepreneurs on QuickBooks Desktop across Lahore and the Chitral District. Combining sharp financial acumen with versatile expertise in corporate branding, graphic design, and digital media, Muhammad Nayab is dedicated to empowering businesses, streamlining operations, and driving sustainable economic growth in Pakistan's SME sector.
