Public procurement holds immense potential as a policy tool to advance sustainability, encompassing not only environmental considerations but also social and economic aspects. From empowering small businesses, especially women-owned enterprises, to integrating sustainable requirements in award criteria, procurement practices can drive significant positive change across multiple dimensions.

Join us for an exciting webinar as we delve into the multifaceted landscape of sustainable public procurement. Our early-stage researchers Dibya Rathi, Enrique Carreras, and Xinyue Xue will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and innovative strategies reshaping the procurement landscape toward a more equitable and environmentally conscious age of public procurement.

This webinar is co-organized with the Istituto di Ricerca sulla Crescita Economica Sostenibile (IRCRES). The IRCRES is an institute of the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, with main headquarters in Turin and secondary offices in Milan, Genoa and Rome. It is responsible for conducting research and development activities of significant economic and social impact.

Elena Pagliarino, a researcher at the Cnr-IRCRES  will moderate this webinar. Elena has a PhD in Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences from the University of Turin, and since 2000 she works at Cnr-IRCRES.  Her research work investigates how the issue of sustainability affects the processes and transformations of the agri-food chain using qualitative research methods. She also has experience in transdisciplinary and participatory research along with engagement in scientific dissemination and public engagement.

During this webinar, we will explore the following themes:

• Encouraging Participation of Women-Owned Businesses in Public Procurement: Gain insights into the barriers preventing women-owned businesses from fully participating in public procurement processes and discover how Gender-Responsive Procurement offers a  solution to confront gender inequality by addressing issues such as training, access to information, and financial constraints. Case studies of successful implementation of gender-responsive procurement will also be discussed. 

• Empowering SMEs in Public Procurement: Uncover the instruments to facilitate and support SME participation in government procurement and explore the impact of these instruments on public buyers and SMEs. From dividing contracts into lots to reserving contracts for SMEs, learn how these measures work in domestic procurement but also under the Agreement on Government Procurement framework.

• Unpacking Economic Impacts of Sustainable Award Criteria: Explore the effectiveness of Sustainable Award Criteria (SAC) in promoting resource efficiency, social responsibility, and long-term impact during the contract award stage. Delve into the empirical evidence surrounding SAC and other sustainable procurement methods and discuss potential downsides and strategies for overcoming them.

Opening remarks

Elena Pagliarino, Istituto di Ricerca sulla Crescita Economica Sostenibile, Italy

Exploring gender smart procurement systems

Dibya Rathi, PhD Candidate in Management, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary

Empowering SMEs in public procurement

Xinyue Xue, PhD Candidate in Law, University of Birmingham, U.K.

Measuring the economic impact of sustainable award criteria in public procurement

Enrique Carreras, PhD Candidate in Economics, University of Turin, Italy