ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT
Portable Sanitation Association International News
BIWEEKLY EDITION NOVEMBER 11, 2020
Page 11
The PSAI Engages in Development of an International
Workshop Agreement on Women-Owned Businesses
From October 14–16, the PSAI joined more than 300 other participants
from dozens of countries around the world to consider the development
of an ISO International Workshop Agreement (IWA) on how to define a
"woman-owned business." The remote process is expected to result in a
document that will be published in February or March of 2021.
Although the US and several other nations have been using their own
definitions of "woman-owned business," the world has lacked a common
definition. This has hampered processes that would allow women to
enter certain fields, raise capital, and build capacity. With sanitation
as a crucial industry everywhere, the PSAI is at the table because the
Board believes it is important to make sure we are participating—and
listening—where doing so will help advance portable sanitation's impact
globally.
PSAI Executive Director Karleen Kos is representing the Association in
the meetings.
By developing a commonly agreed upon definition of a woman-owned business, the IWA proposal aims to lower
entry barriers for women business owners to public and private procurement opportunities, and increase their
access to capacity building programs, incentives schemes, and certification programs.
In the long term, the development of an IWA on a woman-owned business may spur a broader discussion and
additional efforts toward further standardization work on gender equality and related topics. Over time, a standard
definition will facilitate the collection of internationally comparable data on women's entrepreneurship and the
impact on local and national economies.
The meeting series in early October produced a draft document that is currently out for comment from
participants. Any PSAI member is welcome to request a copy of the draft and provide input to Karleen for
communication to the larger body. All comments from around the world must be submitted by Friday, November
20. The next draft will be discussed at a three-day remote meeting in early December.
For more information, please contact karleenk@psai.org. v
Don't Miss Our Roundtables!
The PSAI offers virtual roundtables
regularly. But next week we will offer 18
different roundtable discussion topics,
spread over four sessions and three days.
There's something for everyone on your
team. Click the video to learn more from
members of the PSAI community.
See you online next week!
