VillageReach is excited to share a new research report looking at gender equity in the public health supply chain (PHSC) workforce. We know that women are under-represented within the health supply chain workforce, making up 41% of the overall supply chain workforce and only 26% of supply chain management (SCM) positions. However, the reasons for the gender imbalance in low- and middle income countries were previously not well understood. VillageReach conducted exploratory research to better understand and describe the experience of women working in PHSC and to identify recommendations for increasing women’s full participation in the PHSC workforce, including the iSC.
Through a series of key informant interviews and a survey of PHSC practitioners, our research findings confirm that a gender imbalance in the PHSC workforce exists and that women experience unique challenges throughout the PHSC career pathway, from education to advancement, that require targeted solutions. In the report we outline recommendations to increase women’s participation in the PHSC through strengthening education and career pathways, creating an enabling environment and elevating female decision-making in the PHSC workforce.
Read the Executive Summary & Full report https://bit.ly/3V6Dffq and help us share our findings and recommendations with your partners.
Listen to a Podcast on Supply Chain Now discussing this topic and the research study with VillageReach and Pamela Steele: https://www.villagereach.org/podcast/supply-chain-leadership-across-africa-closing-the-health-workforce-gender-gap/