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*Translations are unofficial and provided by Google translate
Why Apply
Demonstrate your leadership on gender-equality and yield benefits for your business
Gender Equality is not only a fundamental human right; it also makes business sense. It has been well-established that more gender-equal businesses benefit from increased productivity and profit. Research shows that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams are 39% more likely to outperform their peers in profiability, compared to those in the bottom quartile.¹
Beyond individual businesses, women’s full and equal economic participation also drives broader economic growth. Advancing gender equality across Asia-Pacific could add over US$4 trillion to the region's collective annual GDP, representing a 12% increase compared with the business-as-usual GDP trajectory.²
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Benefits to all applicants and members of the WEPs Community* of Practice include:
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Network of nearly 5,000 companies
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Access to guidance on how to implement a culture of gender equity in the internal environment
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Use of a self-diagnostic tool which allows measuring the competitive advantages with the adoption of practices for gender equity
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Increased capacity for positive influence on the supply chain
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Participation in events to disseminate their practices related to gender issues
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Greater visibility of their practices
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Build credibility and fast track your sustainability agenda
Participating in the WEPs Awards presents the opportunity to be visible for your stakeholders and shareholders. This is increasingly important as consumers demand more gender-inclusive approaches of companies and investors are holding their investees accountable for their sustainability measures. Gender equality is also fundamental to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, recognized as an explicit goal and cross-cutting priority in all the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Awardees of the UN Women 2026 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards will receive:
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Free access to UN Women mentoring and training programmes that will help you assess your company’s progress on gender equality and implement a Gender Action Plan
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Worldwide recognition and visibility through joint speaking and media opportunities in UN Women’s and WEPs Communication Channels, Events and Media
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Top Regional Awardees will be featured in a dedicated WEPs Awardee Profile published on UN Women media channels and the official WEPs website
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Guaranteed recognition at the 2027 Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards showcasing the best practice initiatives of your company at a regional level.
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*Although applicants do not need to be WEPs signatories to apply, we encourage all applicants to become signatories. The WEPs form a powerful tool to help companies achieve gender equality throughout their value chain and establish credibility and trust with consumers, employees, and stakeholders. Learn more about the WEPs and click here to see which companies in your country have signed on to the WEPs.
¹ Diversity Matters Even More: The Case for Holistic Impact. McKinsey & Company 2023.
² Achieving Gender Parity in Asia. McKinsey & Company 2023.