NCBA To Steer At Least 30% Of General Services Procurement Spend To Women And Youth

Soko Directory Team

2 years ago

NCBA Bank will steer at least 30 percent of general service procurement spend to women and the youth in line with its push and commitment to empowering women and the youth within and without the country.

Speaking during the Gender Mainstreaming Awards at Carnivore Grounds, Monicah Kihia, Group Director for Human Resources and Culture at NCBA Group, said that the bank is committed to tailoring most of its products and services to ensuring both equity and equality in society.

“As NCBA, we will promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of our operations: Enhanced board & senior management diversity. We will provide targeted mentorship and skills building for women and youth,” she said.

NCBA is among the few players within the country that has achieved 50”50 comprising 50 percent women and 50 percent men, demonstrating the bank’s commitment to gender equality. “In addition, we have a good representation of women in the executive suite and I am proud to say we are doing well on this front.”

According to the 2021 Board Diversity and Inclusion Survey report, Kenya’s gender diversity in the boardroom now stands at 36 percent, a significant growth from 21 percent in 2017. The global average of women holding board positions stands at 23.3 percent up from 20.4 percent in 2018.

Female representation in C-suite roles in Kenya constitutes 37 percent compared to 21 percent globally, with the average age of Kenyan board members now standing at 47.6 years down from 55.8 years in 2017.

At the same time, a report by McKinsey – Women in the Workplace – found that if every country committed to gender parity within its key businesses, Global GDP could increase by up to $12 trillion by 2025.

” Diverse perspectives foster creativity, drive problem-solving, and lead to better decision-making. Hiring from diverse groups allows organizations to benefit from “informational diversity”, where aggregate views create a melting pot that boosts innovation. It is no surprise that organizations with diverse leadership teams are often more innovative and agile in a rapidly changing world,” she said.