As the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ strives for sustainable, disability-inclusive development, its procurement practices have become an essential avenue for promoting human rights, equality, and empowerment for all suppliers. The Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) leads by example in integrating diversity and disability inclusion across its global procurement activities. A core component of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's disability-inclusive vision is its commitment to supporting disability-inclusive suppliers¡ªcompanies that champion accessible, equitable opportunities for persons with disabilities. Through its outreach efforts to disability-inclusive suppliers, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ aligns its operations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advancing global equity and enhancing economic and social empowerment.
Championing Equality and Empowerment through Procurement
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ' Disability Inclusion Strategy, introduced in 2019, establishes a comprehensive framework for promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. Rooted in the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), this strategy guides the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ in addressing disability rights and accessibility across all areas of its work, including procurement. When the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ engages disability-inclusive suppliers, it not only supports individual rights but also fulfills a mandate to foster economic inclusion, equal opportunity, and representation for persons with disabilities.
This approach directly contributes to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's mission to ¡°leave no one behind¡±. Procurement from disability-inclusive suppliers aligns particularly with SDG 8, promoting decent work and economic growth, and SDG 10, reducing inequality within and among countries. By contracting with companies that value and support individuals with disabilities, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ helps create a more inclusive global marketplace, where all members of society can contribute to, and benefit from, economic prosperity.
Defining Disability-Inclusive Suppliers
At its core, a disability-inclusive supplier is a company which actively pursues and implements inclusive practices. Disability- inclusive suppliers are defined as those which make a dedicated, consistent, and measurable effort to implement disability-inclusive practices. Those may include policies focused on recruiting, hiring, and supporting individuals with disabilities; designing accessible products and promoting universal design principles within their services and manufacturing. Suppliers that fulfill these criteria are invited to identify as disability-inclusive suppliers in the United Nations Global Marketplace (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGM), the pivotal portal for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ procurement activities. Registered suppliers with a disability-inclusive designation demonstrate measurable commitments, including accessible premises and reasonable accommodations for staff which further enable them to provide goods and services that meet Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ procurement standards.
Integrating Disability Inclusion in Procurement
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Disability Inclusion Strategy includes a detailed accountability framework with 15 indicators that guide its implementation. Of particular importance is Indicator 8, which sets out guidelines for procurement. Under this framework, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ encourages all procurement entities to emphasize the importance of disability-inclusion through three primary criteria: what the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ procures, how the procurement process is conducted, and from whom the purchases are made. Training programs, updates to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ¡¯s procurement manuals, and accessible document standards are also implemented to ensure compliance with this strategy across all levels of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ operations.
Impact and Growth of Disability-Inclusive Procurement
Since the introduction of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2019, procurement with disability-inclusive suppliers has grown at an average increase of 33% per year. This consistent upward trend underscores the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's commitment to support businesses that incorporate disability-inclusive practices. The growth reflects both the adaptability of disability-inclusive suppliers across various industries and demonstrates the ability for disability-inclusive businesses to enter new markets, showcase their competitiveness and align with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's equitable procurement standards.
Benefits of a Disability-Inclusive Supply Chain
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's disability-inclusive procurement practices foster a more diverse and resilient supply chain. The approach helps address economic disparities, empower underrepresented groups, and increase innovation by drawing on the unique perspectives that persons with disabilities bring to business practices. This initiative also strengthens community-level economic resilience and enhances the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's impact in the global marketplace, as it sources from businesses that embody the values of equity and accessibility. Additionally, this approach also ensures that goods and services procured by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ are accessible for all users, including persons with disabilities.
Moving Forward: How to Engage with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Procurement
If you are a supplier already engaged in disability-inclusive practices, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ encourages you to register and highlight your commitment on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGM. Since May 2021, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGM has included an option for suppliers to identify as disability-inclusive. This self-identification process involves suppliers demonstrating policies that actively support disability-inclusion. Interested suppliers can complete the registration process on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵGM website by selecting the ¡°Disability-Inclusive Supplier¡± designation.
For More Information
For suppliers interested in learning more about disability-inclusive procurement, opportunities and resources are available on the and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Disability Inclusion Strategy resources page. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ encourages all potential suppliers to explore these resources and consider the benefits of adopting inclusive practices, contributing to a vision of equality and accessibility worldwide.