ABWN Supplier Diversity

Women Entrepreneurs: Becoming a Supplier to Multinational Companies”

August 23 – September 1, 2010.

Accra, Ghana

Vital Voices piloted the Supplier Diversity Program in Ghana. The program covered topics on procurement procedures and requirements for MNC’s, understanding and preparation of the tendering process and organizational preparation to partner and supply to MNC’s. The non-inclusivity and underutilization of business women as vendors to MNC’s was highlighted. The workshop provided practical solutions to women entrepreneurs on developing a framework that would prepare their organisations access the opportunities provided by MNC’s.

The program objectives for the participants were to:

• Improve women entrepreneurs understanding of procurement and tender process in Multi-National Companies
• Acquire tools and techniques to identify opportunities and strengthen organisations to partner with multinational companies across the supply chain.
• Trained women entrepreneurs, sustainably increase their revenue through the supply of goods and services to multi-national companies (MNCs)
• Define key actions to explore and consolidate opportunities of partnering with MNC’s.

 

Methodology

The workshop was conducted over 4 days through panel discussions, role playing, break-out discussions, presentations as well as practical exercises

 

Throughout the workshop, daily feedback evaluations were made by participants as a way of assessing the facilitators and content of the program. At the end of the workshop, participants completed feedback forms that were submitted to the facilitators

Working Sessions

The workshop was divided into 4 major categories;

 

Session	Description	Objective
Panel Discussions	Becoming a Supplier to MNC’s Meet the buyer	Participants are empowered to grow their businesses as suppliers to MNC’s through successful stories of women entrepreneurs
Understanding Procurement in MNC’s	Where the money is on the continent What and how Multinational companies buy What is your country policy regarding local purchases	To improve the participants understanding of business opportunities within MNC’sAcquire market research tools on opportunities within MNC’s
Becoming a Supplier to MNC’s beyond national borders	The opportunity, the requirements Success stories and best practices for being a supplier to MNC’s Case Study: Target and Ghana baskets Resources from the International Trade Centre	To inform women entrepreneurs on some of the challenges, lessons learnt and best practices of supplying to MNC’s.
Understanding the tender process	Key principles and value addition of procurement services in MNC’s Prequalification Invitation to tender Preparation for tender Evaluation of  tenders Post-tender negotiation and contract award	Improve understanding of the tender process in MNC’sAcquire tools to prequalify and develop a successful tender
Preparing your company to partner with MNC’s	Organizational structure: Support systems vs. Service delivery systems Global policies on Supplier Diversity by MNC’s Statistics on purchases in Africa by selected MNC’s Certification process of WeConnect Success stories and best practices	Participants acquire tools and methods to reinforce the institutional capacity of their businesses to partner with MNCs.
Action Plans	Individual and Hub action plans	Participants develop action plans for establishing partnerships with MNCs

On Friday 16th December, KAWBO rolled out a full-day workshop which examined the art of gaining competitive advantage through becoming a supplier to multi-national corporations (MNCs). Participants were enlightened on how to identify and overcome potential obstacles as a supplier. Some of the topics covered included: The MNC Perspective on SME Suppliers; MNC-SME Global Value Chains; and Building Long-term MNC-SME Relationships.