• “Proveedoras Sourcing2Equal Colombia” (Proveedoras S2E Col) is a program to promote women SMEs as suppliers to the country’s largest companies.
• It consists of masterclasses, bootcamps and mentoring focused on strengthening the competitive position of women SMEs in corporate procurement processes and connecting them with potential buyers.

Bogotá, Colombia, August 2024. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced the launch of “Proveedoras Sourcing2Equal Colombia,” a program created in partnership with Universidad EAFIT to train women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become suppliers to large companies and establish connections with potential corporate buyers.

The program is free of charge for SMEs and will be made possible thanks to the Women’s Entrepreneurship Finance Initiative (We-Fi) and the Government of Norway. Corporate procurement by large companies represents a large market opportunity for SMEs, especially women-owned SMEs. Women entrepreneurs participating in this initiative will develop key skills, acquire specialized knowledge and practical tools to optimize their growth strategy and actively participate in the supply chains of large corporations in Colombia. The initiative seeks to train 600 SMEs.

The 15 large corporations participating in the initiative and with which the trained SMEs will be linked are: Alpina, Bacao, Bancamía, Bancolombia, Banco de Bogotá, Diageo, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Grupo Argos, Empacor, Juan Valdez, Libero Cobre, Pavimentos Colombia, Postobón, Sunshine Bouquet and Unilever.

The “Suppliers Sourcing2Equal Colombia” program includes the following modules:

• Masterclass: “How to do business with large private sector companies?”
• Intensive Camp to Conquer Corporate Purchasing.
• Mentoring for Star Suppliers
• Relationship spaces with corporate buyers, such as business rounds and networking events.

Carolina Cardenas, IFC Country Representative for Colombia, said: “To promote growth, innovation and reduce poverty, we must close gender gaps in entrepreneurship. With this initiative, women entrepreneurs will have more tools to stimulate the development of their businesses and drive growth.”

Cristina Vélez, Dean of the EAFIT University School of Management, stated, “The collaboration between IFC and EAFIT University in the Sourcing2Equal Colombia Supplier Program is a strategic opportunity to support women entrepreneurs in Colombia. This program not only provides training, but also the possibility to establish valuable connections with large corporations, fostering an ecosystem of business opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Colombia.

This program not only provides training, but also the possibility to establish valuable connections with large corporations, fostering a more diverse and inclusive business ecosystem.”

Want to apply to the Sourcing2Equal Colombia Sourcing Suppliers program? Apply here until August 31: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/RegistroGralS2E.

About IFC

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, is the leading international development institution dedicated to the private sector in emerging markets. Working in more than 100 countries, IFC uses its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In FY2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, seeking to leverage private sector capacity to help end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of simultaneous global crises. For information, visit www.ifc.org.

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