A Systematic Review of Multinational Procurement Policies and Equitable Leadership Pathways for Women in Ghana's Cocoa Supply Chain

This systematic literature review critically examines the effectiveness of multinational procurement policies in fostering equitable leadership pathways for women within Ghana’s cocoa supply chain. The research problem centres on the persistent underrepresentation of women in senior roles despite corporate commitments to gender equity, interrogating whether principles of ‘supply chain feminism’—a framework linking feminist critique to supply chain governance—are operationalised beyond rhetoric. Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, the methodology involved a rigorous search and thematic synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, corporate reports, and policy documents published between 2000 and 2024. The analysis reveals that while procurement policies increasingly mandate gender-inclusive sourcing, their translation into tangible leadership opportunities remains inconsistent. Key findings indicate a predominant focus on women as smallholder producers rather than as managers, executives, or board members within cooperatives and buying companies. Furthermore, initiatives often lack embedded cultural competency, failing to address intersecting barriers like customary land tenure systems and disproportionate care responsibilities. The review argues that without intentional design linking procurement to leadership development, such policies risk perpetuating a gendered hierarchy. The significance lies in its contribution to African feminist business scholarship, providing an evidence-based critique for policymakers and corporations. It concludes that transformative change requires procurement frameworks explicitly tied to leadership quotas, mentorship, and gender-sensitive governance structures within African agribusiness contexts.