Procurement is a powerful tool that helps public authorities meet their needs for products and services but offers the opportunity to drive the implementation of Agenda 2030. This can range from leveraging the power of procurement to achieve environmental goals, but also to foster fair working conditions, supporting gender-equality or marginalised groups, to improving conditions across a supply-chain in collaboration with industry.

At this years’ European Sustainable Cities and Towns Conference (ESCT) Mannheim 2020, the session ‘Socially Responsible Procurement’ will explore this topic further.

Asking questions such as:

• What are key challenges and drivers when buying socially responsible as a city?
• How can procurement be used to influence working conditions in global supply-chains such as electronics or to support training of local workforce?
• What are leading examples across Europe on how socially responsible procurement created impact?
• What are recommendations from experienced procurers and experts on how to start buying socially responsible?

Confirmed speakers are:

• Anna Lupi, Policy Officer, DG Grow Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs​ European Commission
• Elin Seveholt, Advisor Sustainable Procurement, Stavanger Kommune
• Mercè Torrens, General Director Public Procurement, Government of Catalonia
• Espen Nicolaysen, Head of Sustainable Procurement, City of Oslo
• David Salomonsen, Head of CSR and Procurement Law, City of Copenhagen

To take part in the session, register for the conference in general, and join in 2nd October 9:30am.

Contact Josefine Hintz for any questions about the session in particular (josefine.hintz@iclei.org)

About Mannheim 2020

Local transformation needs to be brought to the next level in all aspects of society. Europe needs solutions for major environmental, economic and social challenges now more than ever.

Join us for the 9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns to take transformation forward.

• 30 September - 2 October
• No participation fees
• Interactive format

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and our pioneering virtual host the City of Mannheim will bring together local and regional leaders, European and international institutions and some of the brightest minds working on cutting edge research, businesses and the civil society to forge a more sustainable Europe in #Mannheim2020.