OCE-C.04.C - Supply Chain Gender Equality Actions
Does the company take concrete actions to improve gender equality in its supply chains and/or its customer base?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Small-scale producers are vital to the global food system, yet they often face significant
challenges that threaten their livelihoods and sustainability. These challenges include climate change,
market volatility, limited access to resources and socio-economic inequalities. Small-scale producers
engage with companies in multiple ways. They can be part of companies’ supply chains, providing raw
materials or fresh products for direct consumption, or they can be key buyers of companies’ products,
purchasing inputs like feed or fertiliser. Companies efforts towards enhancing the resilience of small-
scale producers is crucial for improving the livelihoods of millions of producers worldwide, as well as
ensuring stable and sustainable value chains.
Research Guidance:
Being a participant in a multi-stakeholder initiative is not enough to meet this indicator. The company should actively support women small-scale producers through specific targeted interventions.
For example, this could include:
Training programs that focus on leadership, financial literacy, sustainable farming practices and the use of digital tools
Microfinance initiatives
Procurement policies that prioritise women small-scale producers
challenges that threaten their livelihoods and sustainability. These challenges include climate change,
market volatility, limited access to resources and socio-economic inequalities. Small-scale producers
engage with companies in multiple ways. They can be part of companies’ supply chains, providing raw
materials or fresh products for direct consumption, or they can be key buyers of companies’ products,
purchasing inputs like feed or fertiliser. Companies efforts towards enhancing the resilience of small-
scale producers is crucial for improving the livelihoods of millions of producers worldwide, as well as
ensuring stable and sustainable value chains.
Research Guidance:
Being a participant in a multi-stakeholder initiative is not enough to meet this indicator. The company should actively support women small-scale producers through specific targeted interventions.
For example, this could include:
Training programs that focus on leadership, financial literacy, sustainable farming practices and the use of digital tools
Microfinance initiatives
Procurement policies that prioritise women small-scale producers
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report