About the data
The WBA Gender Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to advance gender equality and women's empowerment, tracking how companies integrate gender across their governance and strategy, promote fair representation at all levels of leadership, close the gender pay gap, support workers' health and well-being, prevent violence and harassment, and drive gender equality through their supply chains and communities. The 2026 edition assessed 105 companies across two sectors identified as having a particularly significant impact on gender equality: apparel, and food and agriculture. Companies were scored on 91 elements across six measurement areas: governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. The benchmark is designed to incentivise companies to move beyond policy commitments and take concrete, measurable action to respect and promote gender equality throughout their full value chains, keeping women workers' rights and human rights at its core. More information can be found here.
Methodology
A company committed to gender equality has women actively participating in leadership
positions at all levels in the organisation (e.g. board, senior executive, senior management,
middle/other management). It recognises that increased participation of women across the different
levels of a company leads to improved company governance, business performance, innovation, and
recruitment and retention of women.
Research Guidance
Senior management could include general managers, VP etc.
Some companies also use the term People leader to refer to senior management. In such a case it should be clear that this is a senior position, or the company should disclose accompanying figure for middle/other management.
positions at all levels in the organisation (e.g. board, senior executive, senior management,
middle/other management). It recognises that increased participation of women across the different
levels of a company leads to improved company governance, business performance, innovation, and
recruitment and retention of women.
Research Guidance
Senior management could include general managers, VP etc.
Some companies also use the term People leader to refer to senior management. In such a case it should be clear that this is a senior position, or the company should disclose accompanying figure for middle/other management.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report