Cambodia Investment Review
UN Women has officially opened applications for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards, with Cambodia joining the national awards process for the first time as part of the regional initiative recognising private sector leadership in gender equality.
Applications for the awards program will remain open until June 30, 2026, with organisers positioning the initiative as one of the region’s leading private-sector platforms for recognising inclusive business practices and women’s economic empowerment.
The awards are aligned with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a framework established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact that provides guidance for businesses seeking to improve gender responsiveness across their operations and value chains.
According to UN Women, global support for the WEPs continues to expand, with more than 12,300 signatories worldwide, including over 3,200 organisations from the Asia-Pacific region.
Regional Platform Continues to Grow
The Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards have gained significant traction in recent years, receiving more than 2,000 applications from over 1,000 organisations across 20 countries during the 2020–2024 award cycles. Organisers say the initiative has evolved into a prominent regional benchmark for companies looking to demonstrate leadership in gender equality and responsible business practices.
The 2026 awards program will recognise businesses across six core categories:
- Leadership Commitment
- Gender-Inclusive Workplace
- Gender-Responsive Marketplace
- Inclusive Procurement
- Community Engagement & Partnerships
- Tech & AI for Gender Equality
In addition to the main awards, three SME Champion Awards will recognise outstanding small and medium-sized enterprises from across the applicant pool.
For the first time, organisers are also introducing three Special Mention recognitions focused on Youth Leadership, Transparency and Reporting, and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), reflecting growing regional attention on inclusive leadership and accountability standards.
Cambodia Included in National Awards Process
Cambodia will once again be part of the national awards process, alongside China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.
National WEPs Award ceremonies are scheduled to take place between October and November 2026, before regional winners are recognised at the Asia-Pacific Regional WEPs Awards ceremony in December.
Applications are open to any legally registered for-profit entity operating within the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of company size or industry sector. Organisers also noted that businesses do not need to already be WEPs signatories in order to apply.
Australia and UN Women Back Regional Initiative
The awards are organised by UN Women with support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the UN Women Gender Action Lab (GAL): Innovation and Impact for Gender Equality in Asia-Pacific initiative.
Organisers said the awards are intended not only to recognise existing achievements, but also to encourage broader private-sector engagement on gender equality issues throughout the region.
The initiative comes as ESG reporting, diversity policies and inclusive workplace standards continue gaining greater importance among investors, multinational corporations and regional business chambers operating across Southeast Asia.
Cambodian businesses interested in applying can learn more through the official awards platform at asiapacificwepsawards.org
