According to Karlstad Municipality, the equality prize is awarded every year to highlight good examples in the work for women's and men's equal rights and opportunities. The prize has been awarded since 2023 and aims to contribute to spreading knowledge, engagement, and inspiration throughout the municipal corporation. The specific criteria used to select the winner of the equality prize have not been disclosed.
Jenny Sundén, who works as a sustainability coordinator in Karlstad Municipality's procurement department, received this year's award. Sundén said, 'I am very honored to receive this year's equality prize. ' Sundén and her colleagues have driven the work to incorporate equality into the municipality's framework agreement procurements.
The municipality procures a variety of goods and services each year, ranging from school meals and work clothes to snow removal and IT services. The requirements set in the procurements can have significant impact. Sundén added, 'When we work with equality in procurements, it increases the opportunity to collaborate with suppliers who themselves actively work on the issue.
' The jury highlighted how Jenny's work contributes to development both within the municipality and in society at large. Concrete examples or outcomes resulting from incorporating equality into procurements have not been detailed.