Socially responsible public procurement (SRPP) is a policy approach that can be leveraged by public actors in order to promote social impact, for example fostering employment opportunities, enhancing decent work, gender equality and non-discrimination, social inclusion, etc
By taking on a responsible approach to public purchasing, actors can play a significant role in delivering social outcomes; public buyers are major investors in Europe, spending currently over 14% of the EU’s gross domestic product. In order to raise public buyers’ awareness and promote SRPP among public actors, the Commission published a guide on the subject, addressing the benefits of SRPP, explaining the opportunities offered by the EU legal framework and collecting and analyzing responsible public procurement practices around Europe.
The report addresses how social considerations can be introduced throughout the procurement process (not only during tender procedures), introducing the European legal framework and linking different procurement phases to relevant European Directives while including European experiences of public purchase procedures pertaining to different topics/issues. This analysis of SRPP practices reports the procurement objectives, the approach but also the results achieved and lessons learned. By highlighting the insights drawn from practices implemented by different actors, this guide appears as a useful tool for public buyers willing to experiment on SRPP.
Following the opening chapter (explaining the concept, benefit, objectives of SRPP) the guide unfolds useful elements that can support public actors adopting this responsible approach, for example addressing the importance of an organisational strategy for buying social and related actions such as setting responsible public procurement’s goals, stakeholder consultation, assessing risks and impacts, etc.
As mentioned, the guide includes different SRPP practices from around Europe. Among these practices the case of Söderhamn (Sweden) appears interesting since the objectives of its public procurement were both to promote social inclusion and foster social economy. Following a formal proposal of its town council, the City of Söderhamn started a process to investigate the opportunities to designate at least two procurements to take into account social criteria and focus on supporting social inclusion and social enterprises.
For further information you can access the english guide here.
Archivio:
A new United Nations report29 October 2024
Corporate sustainability due diligence14 December 2023
Introducing the Impact Taskforce (ITF) State of Play 202312 December 2023
Coke launches $137.7m sustainability fund15 September 2023
Impact Investing UK case study repository15 September 2023
European Commission adopted a Proposal for non-profit associations13 September 2023
Turn in European social procurement policies16 December 2022
The transition pathway for proximity & social economy15 December 2022
Social Value Matters Europe in October in Turin27 June 2022
The Global Citizen Impact Funds02 May 2022
Social impact integrates the new European innovation ecosystems09 February 2022
EU co-creation of the proximity and social economy ecosystem09 February 2022
The Impact Taskforce: time to deliver07 February 2022
Italy: ten million for benefit companies10 December 2021
Peer2Peer: Amsterdam Impact29 September 2021
EU Social Taxonomy for a sustainable finance27 September 2021
EVPA position paper on EU Action Plan for the Social Economy20 September 2021
Generation Changemaker29 June 2021
The Franchising Push for Social Impact31 March 2021
B20 at the start, in the sign of the impact revolution18 February 2021
Everyone a Changemaker, Ashoka’s mission15 February 2021
The Final Statement of The Economy of Francesco10 December 2020
B Corp and B Movement Builders11 November 2020
Road to Mannheim 2021, European Social Economy Summit08 October 2020
Responsible Banking07 October 2020
Cities and Social Impact Bonds05 October 2020
If not now, then when?22 May 2020
Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions27 February 2020
The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment18 November 2019